Cleck-mate to Stephens (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Cleck-mate to Stephens

9:51am Friday 28th September 2007

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IMPRESSIVE kicking by fly-half Dan Stephens was the key to Kendal taking the spoils in this top of the table battle in North Division One, writes Dennis Aris.

Yet it was not Stephens' kicking alone, both for points and position, but another solid defensive performance by the increasingly impressive Black and Ambers which turned over a side who have scored heavily in their previous matches.

Stephens, floored by a late tackle in the 10th minute, took immediate revenge by slotting over a penalty and the visitors were allowed no respite as Kendal's pack then set up a solid platform in the 15th minute, from which the ball was flung back to Stephens, who had all the time in the world to put his drop kick straight through the centre of the posts.

Home dominance continued and on the half-hour powerful Kiwi Nick McKain chipped the ball up, ran on, caught his own kick and barged past two defenders to touch down for a try converted by Stephens.

Three minutes later the visitors put their first points on the board when Kendal were caught offside at the scrum and Owen Edwards landed the penalty.

Cleckheaton were clearly a well-drilled, competent side, but they needed all their defensive skills to prevent further Kendal scores in the first half, particularly as the home side showed some slick inter- passing and changse of direction.

New Zealand full-back Hoani Moore looked quick and impressive on his home debut.

There was little the visitors could do about Stephens' kicking, however, and he delighted the crowd by banging over a penalty from the half-way line just before half-time.

From the re-start a kick for position down the right touchline put winger John Ladell as firm favourite to win the race for the touch down, but as he shaped to dive in Cleckheaton winger Ryan Duckett had a rush of blood and tackled him without the ball.

The penalty try gave Stephens a simple conversion for 23-3.

Cleckheaton responded with a period of pressure and Liam Hayton's ten minutes in the sin-bin for an offence in a defensive maul led to a 15 minute spell during which Kendal could do nothing right for the referee and gave a way a string of penalties.

Kendal were caught napping when from a tap penalty 10 yards out the ball quick flung spread to the right for winger Mark Bradshaw to score in the corner, a try well converted by Edwards.

Duckett scored another unconverted d try from a kick ahead to bring Cleckheaton back to 23-15 and for a moment the outcome looked doubtful.

Then, with Hayton was restored to the action, the back to full strength pack resumed its dominance, particularly as visiting second row Ryan Piercy was almost immediately yellow carded for deliberately pulling down a Kendal drive, Stephens taking the three points for the penalty.

Two Kendal attempts at a pushover try were held out, but a quick handling move down the line saw speedy substitute winger Dan Murray almost make it to the line.

Stephens was on hand to pick up and go over, however, to complete his personal contribution of 24 points.

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