Kendal’s tough start to the season continued, after opening with the remaining top three teams from last season, they travelled to Merseyside to play the season’s surprise team Anselmians, who were in second place on points difference, with maximum points from three wins. They had started the season with a bang with a big win against Blackburn.

A number of changes from last weekend with no Jack Blocksidge, Tadhg Butler (playing for the Seconds also at Anselmians); Dane Blenkharn or the injured Mark Carruthers and Luke Atkinson. The good news was Leo Mercer and Alistair Thompson were back. Charlie Lowther came in for his first game of the season, Joe Anderson and Dafydd Philp came off the bench and their places were taken by Alex Ryder (returning from injury) and Anthony Gage. Again six teenagers started, in a squad with an average age of just over twenty-five.

Whilst there had been rain earlier, the threatened showers never came, and the game was played in the dry.

Glenn Chesher made his 200th appearance for the team.

Kendal started well keeping the ball through multiple phases, but it was Anselmians who were to get the opening score. Kendal were on the attack but the ball was ripped in the tackle, and a forward put a long kick down field, and Dini Noyo did well to get back but was forced in to touch. Kendal regained the ball only for it to again be lost in contact, and a clever cross-field kick was put to the corner, where the ball was gathered on the wing for the try. 7v0 with the conversion.

Kendal were forced into an early change with Dafydd Philp getting a head cut and Anthony Gage coming on, but Philp returned with a bandaged head.

The next score came from a Kendal lineout ball being lost, which resulted in a penalty which Anselmiams decided to take. 10v0.

A second Anselmians try came just after twenty minutes of play, with an excellent drive from a lineout 17v0

Anselmians were keeping the ball through multiple phases and whilst the Kendal defence was doing really well to keep their hosts out, they could not get their hands on the ball.

The third try came from a quickly taken penalty after twenty five minutes 24v0

It looked as if Kendal could be about to open their scoring, from the restart. Aaron Stephens excellent kick was well gathered by Oscar Coxon, who made a lot of ground into the twenty-two, but no support had come with him, so when stopped he was isolated and a penalty conceded.

Instead Anselmians got their bonus point try, with more good recycling to open up the Kendal defence. 31v0

With five minutes to play, Kendal made a tactical change with Alex Ryder making his first appearance of the season, coming on for Joe Anderson.

Finally on halftime, Kendal got a break through. Aaron Stephens made a good break and when stopped the ball was recycled, and moved wide. Glenn Chesher timed a pass well to Charlie Lowther and whilst he was stopped short of the line, he managed to reach over the line to ground the ball. Aaron Stephens added the conversion. 31v7

Kendal went in at half time but Anselmians stayed out and it was Kendal who made the better start to the second half.

The lead was narrowed with a second try for Kendal. A lineout was won and the forwards drove for the line before the ball was moved across the field for a try from Dan Shorrock, which Aaron Stephens again converted. 31v14

Ten minutes later Anselmians extended their lead. A Kendal lineout through was taken by an Anselmians forward, and the ball was moved to the left for a try, which was excellently converted from near the touchline. 38v14

The next try followed a lineout that Kendal won, but the Anselmians hooker anticipated a pass and intercepted for an easy run in from short range. 45v14

This saw a further Kendal change with Tom Keast coming on for Steven Nelson. Shortly afterwards Anthony Gage and Joe Anderson returned in place of Dafydd Philp and Glenn Chesher.

With just over ten minutes to play, Kendal got a third try. Tom Keast made a long run from defence. Ben Dixon was in support, but Keast was tackled. The ball was recycled and Ben Dixon made ground down the left before releasing Ollie Rose for the try. 45v19

The final Anselmians try came from a kick out of defence. Anthony Gage blocked the kicker (not a good idea with the excellent sharp eyes of Ricky Handa as referee) then the resulting penalty was advanced, when another player chose to speak out (also not wise). The penalty was taken quickly for a try from short range. 52v19

Kendal were however not finished. Tom Keast made another good run from defence. and the move was taken on by Aaron Stephens then Dan Shorrock, before Ben Dixon released Ollie Rose for a try later credited to Leo Mercer. Aaron Stephens added the conversion with the final action of the game. 54v26.

Anselmians looked very well organised team with some excellent ball handling forwards who always seemed to have multiple choices for each move. If they can keep this up, they may still be challenging at the top at season end.

Despite the scoreline the Kendal defence was very good, but too many tries came from Kendal errors, whilst in attack too many balls were dropped often due to too powerful passes, whilst supporting players regularly over ran the ball carrier, to prevent passes.

A weekend off league action next Saturday, but instead an extra game at Mint Bridge with the visitors Aspatria in the Cumbria Cup (I think the FIRST Cumbria Cup tie at the new Mint Bridge - it is that long since we got a home draw or anyone wanted to travel if we did !)

MAN OF MATCH

Ollie Rose

TEAM

Anselmians field 11 of the team who played at Mint Bridge last season - as did we

ACTION

OTHER RESULTS

TABLE

Next visitors at Mint Bridge in a fortnight will Stoke, so both of us will be looking for a first win, despite gathering bonus points, and both of us have played a number of the teams at top of the table