Rugby - Strong defence brings rewards (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Strong defence brings rewards

11:55am Sunday 26th November 2006 in

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Kendal 26, Birkenhead Park 5.

Four tries were run in by Kendal's flamboyant backs, but it was the effort of the forwards and dogged defence by the whole side which caught the eye as the home side strengthened their grip on second place in North Division One.

Scrum half James Gough, fullback Simon Mulholland and left wing John Ladell ran in three first half tries. Man of the match John Ladell also took on place kicking duties, landing three conversions and also scoring the only try of the second half. Birkenhead enjoyed long periods of possession, particularly in the second half, but were thwarted close to the line on numerous occasions by determined defence, particularly late during a brief spell when a flurry of yellow cards reduced Kendal to just 12 men.

Kendal's qualities in defence will probably be called on again next week when face their toughest test of the season - an away trip to runaway league leaders Caldy.