Rugby - Kendal win season opener (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Kendal win season opener

8:50pm Saturday 8th September 2007 in

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Kendal 16, Birkenhead Park 0.

ON a bright day ideally suited to good handling neither side saw fit to oblige in this opening game in North Division One.

Yet despite the catalogue of knock-ons and other errors Kendal can take heart from an impressive defensive performance during which Birkenhead never looked like breaching the solid wall strong tackles.

Fly-half Dan Stephens, returning to his old club, slotted over a penalty after four minutes and quickly followed that with an angled kick to the right corner which an under pressure Park player deliberated threw into touch.

The resulting maul ended with Nick McKain touching down. Stephens conversion attempt sailed wide.

With the score at 6-0 after 11 minutes it looked as if Kendal would romp away, but poor handling and spoiling tactics prevented further score before half-time.

Two minutes after the interval scrum-half James Gough sprang a surprise with a well-taken drop-goal, but the game deteriorated again to mistake and off the ball scuffles.

With 10 minutes to go Stephens hoisted a high kick cross field where it as well taken by Andrew Hudson who quickly fed John Ladell for the speedy right winger to score wide out. Chris Park's creditable long-range conversion attempt just failed.

At 16-0 the first league points were in the bag - but Kendal will face sterner tests this season, notably when they travel the Penrith next Saturday for a tough derby match.