6:25pm Saturday 6th February 2010
'WINNING ugly' summed up Kendal's 23-14 victory over National League 2 North strugglers Bradford and Bingley at Wagon Lane on Saturday.
Full back Mark Ireland kicked a 10th-minute penalty to get the scoreboard rolling but it was a shapeless first quarter from the visitors' viewpoint.
Instead The Bees came back with a try from centre Tom Davidson flew through a gap after quick ball from a scrum and he added the conversion himself for a 7-3 lead.
Kendal remained out of sorts until right on half time when left winger Chris Park went over for a try after Mike Scott's miss-pass allowed Ian Voortman to give Park the run-in.
Ireland's conversion put Kendal 10-7 ahead at the break.
Seven minutes into the second half Kendal prop Ian McDowell finished off a well-worked move from a penalty lineout, Ireland converted and Kendal had stretched into a 17-7 lead.
The choppy waters were not over for the visitors, however, and Matt Gracie's tackle on Terry Sibanda while without the ball as he pursued a charged-down kick led to a penalty try and the deficit was down to just three points.
Kendal plugged away and their reward came with Ireland slotting another penalty on 66 minutes.
Fly-half Mike Scott sensibly took the chance to add a drop-goal with two minutes to go to put the result out of reach for the home side and deny them a bonus-point they probably deserved.
It had never been pretty, but to win was enough on a day that lacked real flair or strategy on the pitch.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/trade_directory/