Hot Otley ahead in cup (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Hot Otley ahead in cup

9:17am Friday 23rd November 2007

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KENDAL'S reward for their hard-fought win over Huddersfield in the EDF National Trophy is to draw just about the toughest match the third round of the competition can throw up.

They must travel to Otley on December 8 to take on the side currently second in National League Two, two divisions above Kendal.

The Yorkshire side have won eight of their ten league games this season, the latest being an 18-0 demolition of Wharfedale.

Otley will, however, be without their England capped back-row player Dan Hyde who has just been banned for 14 weeks for testing positive for marijuana in a random drug test when Otley played Southend in October.

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, writes Dennis Aris.

Kendal were forced to make last-minute changes as first choice pops Billy Coxon (elbow) and Richard Harryman (thigh strain) had been ruled out after training.

Replacements Dan Bowles and Allen Martindale proved able deputies and played their part in an unyielding pack and ferocious 15-man defence that nullified the Huddersfield threat.

A capricious wind added to the wet, difficult playing conditions and although Kendal conceded a dozen and a half penalties under pressure, Huddersfield's star kicker Chris Johnson was only able to convert three of them.

As expected there was little to choose between the two sides and numerous infringements bogged down much of the first-half exchanges There was an exchange of penalties in the opening ten minutes, with Dan Stephens ensuring Kendal were first to put points on the board.

The tie remained finely balanced but without further score until a minute before half time when the Kendal pack quickly recycled ball on the visitors' 22, and fly-half Stephens broke clear across field before feeding left winger Luke Ladell, who outpaced the cover and touched down in the corner. From the touchline Stephens narrowly failed to make the conversion.

Hudddersfield responded when Johnson landed a penalty with the last kick of the half and into the wind, to cut Kendal's lead to 8-6, leaving the fear that his kicking ability would be a major factor in the second half.

Yet, despite the second period being littered with penalties and errors, Johnson's kicks went awry in the gusty wind and it was not until the 63rd minute that he put his side 9-8 up from a penalty.

The threat of defeat spurred Kendal and they stormed back within a minute.

Full-back Hoani Moore made a tremendous break and was unfairly held down after a tackle. Kendal opted to punt the penalty kick into the corner and from the lineout the pack produced a trademark rolling maul to drive over for a try by second-row Liam Hayton.

Stephens' kick looked certain to go over, but for once the wind failed to curve it back to the left and it sailed just outside the right upright.

With Huddersfield then camping in the Kendal 22 for the last 15 minutes, it did not appear to be a winning margin, but the gritty defence would not yield.

At one point the visitors crossed the line, but great work by No.8 Warren Wharton saw him burrow under the ball-carrier to prevent a touchdown. Credit must also go to second row Gareth Gore and flanker Andrew Hudson were outstanding in another strong team display.

Relief only came with the final whistle, which signalled Kendal's 11th game undefeated in league and cup this season.

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