A first game of the New Year after a four week break, and the two postponements. Kendal came into the game tied on 22 points with Leek and Stoke at the foot of the table, with both having winnable games, whilst Manchester is always a tough place to visit, especially with the team currently sitting in second place.

Just one change from the team who were selected for the postponed game against Anselmians a fortnight ago, with Jack Lane coming in for Will Meaden. Patrick Wolstenholme made a return from injury on the bench.

After a game played in front of a big crowd in a heatwave last season, this time it was a very cold day and a poor crowd.

Manchester started strongly and Kendal were trapped in their twenty two for a long period, rarely getting their hands on the ball, but the defence held out.

Finally Kendal broke out and Aaron Stephens put a long kick into the Manchester half, which was misfield by the Manchester player, who knocked on to give Kendal the scrum. The ball was then moved across field and after making a break Ben Dixon threaded a kick through for Dan Shorrock to chase and touchdown. 5v0 after ten minutes

Four minutes later Manchester took the lead, with a converted try following more slick passing. The conversion was added from close to the touchline. 5v7.

Three minutes later Kendal were back in the lead. Tommy Calvert made a break from mid-field, Matt Houghton was in support to gather a pass, and whilst he appeared to have been stopped, timed a pass perfectly to Ollie Rose who raced down the touchline to score. Again the difficult conversion was not successful. 7v10

When offered a penalty after a high tackle, Manchester took the points 10v10

Almost immediately they re-took the lead with more quick passing and good support play 17v10.

Kendal came back and had a long period of pressure close to the Manchester line, but the Manchester defence did well to stop several attacks close to the line, and the chance was gone.

So mixed feelings on the touchline at halftime, that the team had done very well to keep in touch with a strong Manchester team, but also disappointment that after the late pressure they were not on level terms, An early score was needed after half time.

When it came it went to Manchester after just three minutes. A forward drive to the line was followed by the ball being moved wide for the score. 24v0

Shortly afterwards the referee stopped play following an injury to Charlie Lowther. Initially it appeared a stretcher may be needed but he was able to get to his feet, and was helped off. Patrick Wolstenholme, made a return after injury, joining the back row, with Matt Houghton taking Lowther’s spot in the front row.

Five minutes later Kendal made two tactical changes with Ben Leacock replacing Alex Ryder, and Mark Carruthers replacing Jack Lane going into the centre, with Tommy Calvert moving to fullback.

A powerful run by a Manchester forward saw them get their bonus point fourth try, and stretch away from their visitors. 31v10

Despite the big lead, Manchester’s next score was a penalty 34v10.

Kendal were continuing to compete, but were being let down by minor handing errors and too often ball was slow coming back, in comparison with the high tempo Manchester play when they had the ball.

Alex Ryder returned in place of Glen Chesher.

With seven minutes to play Kendal finally got their reward with Patrick Wolstenholme going over for the third try. Again the difficult conversion failed. 34v15

With time running out Kendal needed another quick score for the bonus point, but instead it was Manchester who scored following their restart. 41v15.

Aaron Stephens re-start was knocked on by a Manchester forward, and gathered by a player in front of him, which was spotted by the referee who awarded Kendal a penalty. Aaron Stephens put the kick close to the Manchester line.

After earlier problems in the lineout, this time the throw found Oscar Coxon and the pack drove for the line. With Joe Anderson on the floor with an injury, Ben Dixon and several backs added their weight, but it was Matt Houghton who emerged with the try. The difficult conversion looked on target but drifted wide. 41v20. The referee blew for fulltime.

After being so close at halftime, the final scoreline was a disappointment, but there was little more the Kendal defence could have done against a very good and well organised team. The bigger concern was in attack where poor options, lack of protection of the ball at rucks, and slow decision making, in comparison with their opponents, again cost further score.

Still a good performance against a strong opponent and what could prove a valuable bonus point at the end of the season.

The break had clearly helped Ben Dixon, who was back a lot closer to his old self in attack and defence, whilst the difficult conversions did not go over Aaron Stephens played well, and as someone commented at half time “if only we could find another fourteen Matt Houghtons !”

Next week (weather permitting) the re-arranged visit to Newport (Salop) then in a fortnight the key game at Mint Bridge against Birkenhead Park who seem to be hitting some form

MAN OF THE MATCH

Matt Houghton

ACTION

Action	Team	No	Name	Time	Man	Ken

Try	Kendal	14	Dan Shorrock	11	0	5
Try	Manchester			15	5	5
Con	Manchester			16	7	5
Try	Kendal	9	Ollie Rose	19	7	10
Pen	Manchester	15	Joe Davidson	24	10	10
Try	Manchester	9	Josh Jones	25	15	10
Con	Manchester	15	Joe Davidson	26	17	10
= = =	= = =	= = =	HALF TIME	40	17	10
Try	Manchester			43	22	10
Con	Manchester			44	24	10
sub-on	Kendal	20	Patrick Wolstenholme	47	24	10
sub-off	Kendal	2	Charlie Lowther	47	24	10
sub-on	Kendal	17	Ben Leacock	52	24	10
sub-off	Kendal	4	Alex Ryder	52	24	10
sub-on	Kendal	21	Mark Carruthers	52	24	10
sub-off	Kendal	15	Jack Lane	52	24	10
Try	Manchester			53	29	10
Con	Manchester	15	Joe Davidson	54	31	10
Pen	Manchester	15	Joe Davidson	69	34	10
sub-on	Kendal	4	Alex Ryder	70	34	10
sub-off	Kendal	1	Glenn Chesher	70	34	10
Try	Kendal	20	Patrick Wolstenholme	73	34	15
Try	Manchester			75	39	15
Con	Manchester			76	41	15
Try	Kendal	8	Matt Houghton	81	41	20
= = =	= = =	= = =	FULL TIME	82	41	20

TEAM :

Manchester		Kendal

Joe Davidson	15	Jack Lane
Matt Wright	14	Dan Shorrock
Harry Lewis	13	Ben Dixon
Joe Williams	12	Tommy Calvert
Fraser Green	11	Dafydd Philp
Colin Sisk	10	Aaron Stephens
Josh Jones	9	Olllie Rose

Calum Baines	1	Glenn Chesher
Luke Boon	2	Charlie Lowther
Lewis McKay	3	Joe Anderson
Harvey Robinson	4	Alex Ryder
Luke Bowles	5	Oscar Coxon
Charlie Greene	(c) 6	Greg Wrathall
Sean Casey	7	Alistair Thompson
Greg Stewart	8	Matt Houghton

Sion Davenport	rep	Patrick Wolstenholme
Kellan Conaway-Smith	rep	Ben Leacock
Harry Bolland	rep	Mark Carruthers

OTHER RESULTS

Birkenhead Park	38	27	Stoke on Trent
Leek	35	30	Blackburn
Newport (Salop)	19	24	Wirral
Penrith	38	38	Rossendale
Stockport	43	12	Anselmians

More shocks

The Good News was Birkenhead Park beat Stoke, who only got a try scoring bonus point

The Bad News was Leek beat Blackburn and Blackburn got a double bonus point

Massive result for Penrith holding Rossendale to a high scoring draw.

Another good win for Stockport

TABLE

#	TEAM	P	W	D	TB	LB	Pts
1	Rossendale	14	13	1	13	0	67
2	Manchester	15	11	0	12	1	57
3	Wirral	14	11	0	8	1	53
4	Anselmians	13	10	0	8	1	49
5	Stockport	14	8	0	9	3	44
6	Blackburn	15	7	0	6	2	36
7	Penrith	14	5	2	7	2	33
8	Newport (Salop)	14	5	0	8	5	33
9	Leek	14	4	0	7	3	26
10	Kendal	13	3	1	7	2	23
11	Stoke on Trent	14	3	0	10	1	23
12	Birkenhead Park	14	2	0	4	0	12

The bonus point from the late try keeps us out of the bottom two

SECOND XV

A magnificent first win of the season against the team in second in the League.

16 point points for Joe Fiddler and tries for Steven Nelson and Jack Haworth, with a late winning try from Tadhg Butler

Action	Team	No	Name	Time	Ken	Opp

R/C	Eagle			19	0	0
Try	Kendal	15	Joe Fiddleer	20	5	0
Con	Kendal	15	Joe Fiddleer	20	7	0
Try	Eagle			24	7	5
Con	Eagle			24	7	7
Try	Kendal	8	Steven Nelson	26	12	7
Con	Kendal	15	Joe Fiddleer	27	14	7
Try	Eagle			34	14	12
Con	Eagle			34	14	14
= = =	= = =	= = =	HALF TIME		14	14
Try	Eagle			47	14	19
Try	Kendal		Jack Haworth	50	19	19
Try	Eagle			61	19	24
Con	Eagle			61	19	26
Try	Kendal	15	Joe Fiddleer	70	24	26
Con	Kendal	15	Joe Fiddleer	70	26	26
Y/C	Eagle			80	26	26
Try	Kendal		Tadhg Butler	80	31	26
= = =	= = =	= = =	FULL TIME		31	26

15	Joe Fiddler
14	Adam Harding
13	Jordan Johnson
12	Anthony Gage
11	Jack Haworth
10 (c)	Dan Greenwood
9	Charlie Elbourne

1	Grant Parker
K	Nathan Halhead
3	Connor Lees
4	Luke Middleton
5	Tadhg Butler
6	Liam Hayton
7	Rhys Humphreys
8	Steven Nelson

rep	William Patterson
rep	Cameron Stevenson
rep	Billy Coxon

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