A LATE try for high-flying Wirral at Mint Bridge gave them a 19-13 win to prevent Kendal RUFC securing an unlikely double over the third-placed team

Wirral started the game strongly, kicking off towards the clubhouse end, and only some desperate last gasp defence prevented an early opening score.

But the Merseysiders were down to fourteen men after just three minutes following a reckless tackle as Kendal ran out of defence. No.7 Rob Pearl was shown a yellow card.

Despite this the visitors continued to have the better of the early play, and there was a let off for Kendal as they were penalised in their own twenty two for failing to release after a tackle. Wirral ran the penalty and a second followed. This time the kick came back off the posts.

With Wirral restored to fifteen men, Kendal started to get more into the game and got the opening score after twenty minutes. Glenn Weightman put a long penalty kick to touch, and when Wirral decided not to defend the lineout, Liam Hayton exploited the gap to break through. The forwards drove to the line, but the ball was held up. The Kendal pack had been on top in the scrum, and after going for an initial drive, Chris Downham picked up quickly to feed James Gough who went in for the try.

The score seemed to wake Wirral up again, and they took the lead five minutes later. Kendal had defended a string of Wirral attacks and when a man going for the line was adjudged to have been high tackled, the referee awarded a penalty try. This was converted and Wirral led 7-5.

Three minutes later Wirral were down to fourteen again. Shortly after being warned for giving a penalty away when slowing Kendal ball at a ruck, No.5 Chris Tyson reoffended and was given a yellow.

With no further score, Wirral carried their two-point lead into the interval and they extended their lead shortly after the restart.

Several Kendal backs failed to tidy up a loose ball and the Kendal pack, which otherwise had a good game, were slow getting back to support them allowing Wirral to steal the ball, but they were held up on the line.

From the resulting scrum the ball was moved right for a try by outside half Craig Harvey. With no conversion Wirral lead 5-12.

Kendal finally got the breakthrough in their search for a response after twenty minutes. Another long penalty kick from Weightman took them into the Wirral twenty two. The forwards drove from the lineout, and after driving Wirral over the line, James Gough was credited with a second try to close the gap back to two.

With six minutes of normal time to play, Kendal took the lead. With Kendal on the attack Wirral were caught offside and Chris Park put the kick over to make it 13-12.

But with Kendal ahead approaching the final stages, the game turned on an error. Weightman put a kick deep into the Wirral half, but the initiative was loss as two Kendal forwards chased the kick from in front of Weightman, giving away a penalty, which put Wirral in attack instead of defence.

Wirral stepped up several gears, driving through tackles, and after several attacks had been stopped, the ball was moved to the left for a try in the corner. An excellent conversion gave Wirral an unassailable 13-19 lead.

Kendal pressed for a late score to once again turn the tie back in their favour, but with time against them the clock ran down allowing Wirral to take the spoils.