Percy Park 48

Kendal 24

National Division Three North

KENDAL conceded four tries in the last 10 minutes to fall to defeat against high-flying Percy Park despite a superb performance.

Kendal started poorly, and should have gone behind after Park’s right wing Ali Blair made a good break, but then chose to pass and failed to find a teammate.

But the respite was short-lived as scrum half John Scott evaded Kendal tacklers to score from a quickly-taken penalty to put the home side 5-0 up.

The lead was extended after 10 minutes when flanker Ben Bell scored after a forward drive to the line, outside half Ashley Smith converted for a 12-0 lead.

Kendal were struggling at scrums and lineouts, and their first try came from a lost lineout. When the ball was stolen by the Park second row, the tap went loose and Kendal flanker Dan Greenwood was first to the ball. Kendal’s forwards recycled for Liam Hayton, playing in the front row due to Kendal’s injury crisis among their front line, to score from close range. Chris Park converted to narrow the gap to 12-7.

Kendal tails were up, and Park attacks were beginning to look disjointed. A break down the right wing saw new recruit Dini Nayo throw an audacious dummy to leave his defender behind and score near the posts for Kendal to take the lead 14-12 as Park added the extras.

At the end of normal time in the first half, things got even better for Kendal. The forwards set up a good position in the Park 22, and when the ball was released to the backs, Dan Lowther arrived on the burst to score for a half time lead of 21-12.

Kendal enjoyed the advantage of the wind and slope in the first half, and Percy Park had a record of strong second half performances, so the game was far from over.

Kendal started the second half strongly, but when Percy Park came back, Reece Tomlinson was sinbinned for illegally interfering to halt a Percy Park drive. This appeared to be a turning point as from the penalty, the ball was moved to left wing Liam Blackburn, who scored to narrow the Kendal lead to 21-17.

From the kickoff Park were immediately back on the attack and a good break by outside half Ashley Smith was finished by second row Michael Langlands for Park to regain the lead 22-21.

There was immediately another twist. Percy Park knocked the restart kick on and a player in an offside position picked the ball up, giving away a penalty. Park put it over off the post to retake the lead 24-22 with 25 minutes to play.

Percy Park had the better of the next quarter, but Kendal helped by a string of penalties, continued to look dangerous. Green, Thompson and Greenwood were having excellent games in the Kendal pack.

With just over 10 minutes to go Blackburn scored his second try in the corner after a long passage of play, and Smith converted to give Percy Park a 29-24 lead.

This seemed to rejuvenate the North Shields team who stepped up a gear and ran in three more tries from right wing Blair and two from livewire substitute George Lewis.

With Birkenhead Park winning against Bradford and Bingley, Kendal are now just one point off the bottom of the table.

Kendal

Dave Peacock, Duncan Green, Liam Hayton (c), James Thompson, Reece Tomlinson, Dan White, Dan Greenwood, Garry Holmes, Simon Davidson, Dan Rayson, Alistair Thompson, Dan Lowther, Jason Poleman (rep Andrew Boardley), Diniesse Nayo, Chris Park.

Percy Park

Blakey, Dubois, Purdy, Ponton, Langlands, Bell, Davidson, Sylph, Scott, Smith, Blackburn, Morton, Stephenson, Blair, Bird.