4:43pm Saturday 17th November 2007
By Dennis Aris
Kendal 13, Huddersfield 9.
Determined defence and two well-worked tries earned Kendal a place in the draw for the third round of the EDF National Trophy, with its hope of a profitable home draw against a National League Two side.
In a capricious wind the two sides traded penalties in the first 10 minutes, Dan Stephens for Kendal and Chris Johnson for Huddersfield.
The match between the two top sides in North Division One was always expected to be close and the first half was bogged down by numerous infringements.
The with a minute to go to half-time the Kendal pack produced a quickly recycled ball on the visitors' 22 and fly-half Stephens made rapid progress across field before feeding left winger Luke Ladell to outpace the cover and touchdown in the corner for an unconverted try.
With the last kick of the first half Johnson landed a penalty to reduced Kendal's lead to 8-6 at the break.
The second half was also littered with penalties and errors, but Johnson's feared kicking ability did not come into play until the 63rd minute when he put his side 9-8 up from a penalty.
Kendal stormed straight back and within a minute and unconverted pushover try finished by Liam Hayton restored their lead at 13-9.
With Huddersfield camped in the Kendal 22 for the last 15 minutes it did not appear to be a winning margin, but the gritty 15-man defence would not yield as Kendal notched up their 11th game undefeated in league and cup this season.
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