Kendal rugby force errors on nil visitors (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Kendal rugby force errors on nil visitors

9:30am Friday 22nd February 2008 in Sport By Dennis Aris

THE FINAL score could easily have been doubled such was Kendal's all-round domination of this North Division One match, writes Dennis Aris.

Middlesbrough rarely approached the Kendal try line during the 80 minutes and never looked like recovering after two pushovers and a penalty try had them reeling at 21-0 by the 45th minute.

From the outset Kendal appeared ready to open the game out and a promising run by full-back Hoani Moore was only thwarted by a crossing offence.

Forwards Garth Gore and Andrew Hudson also enjoyed early breaks, with Hudson's eventual kick ahead forcing Middlesbrough to scramble the ball clear.

Yet it was inevitably the power of Kendal pack that started the points ticking over. After a couple of Kendal turnovers at the loose, the anxious visitors offended as they attempted to thwart a third.

The resulting penalty was booted into the corner and from the lineout an efficient catch and drive saw prop Billy Coxon touch down in the right corner.

Kendal 31 - Middlesbrough 0

From the touchline fly-half Dan Stephens slotted a superb conversion and with 12 minutes on the clock Kendal were on their way.

Within minutes the pack were at it again, but this time the drive was held up a yard short of the line.

After 25 minutes Hudson went off with a knee injury, but with Kiwi Nick McKain coming on as replacement the change barely mattered. Ten minutes later the lead was doubled.

Another penalty lineout in the corner produced a well-orchestrated drive over the line and this time it was Gore who came up with the ball.

Stephens hit another immaculate conversion from way out on the right and Kendal went into half-time with a comfortable 14-0 lead.

The second half had hardly opened before Middlesbrough were forced into another infringement in the loose and Stephens put the ball into the right corner.

Unwilling to be pushed over yet again, the visitors illegally killed the drive and conceded a penalty try for their pains leaving Stephens to convert from in front of the posts for 21-0.

Game over, Kendal changed tactics to give the backs some action and midway through the half they produced one of the best flowing moves seen at Mint Bridge this season with centre John Ladell, Moore and winger Chris Park producing a lightning inter-change of passes before Park cut inside to touch down. Stephens' conversion attempt drifted wide.

Minutes later scrum-half James Gough set off with a quick tap penalty and fed centre Ian Voortman. The South African sprinted 15 yards and looked certain to score, but dropped the ball just before crossing the line, Ten minutes from the end top try scorer John Ladell demonstrated his elusive skills by slipping from the grasp of two tacklers to dart in for an unconverted try, his 13th of the season.

n Kendal have no match on Saturday as it is Six Nations Internationals wekend. On March 1 they travel to Cleckheaton and the following Saturday have a home local derby with Penrith.

Away games to Birkenhead Park (March 29) and Altrincham Kersal (April 12) precede a home finale to the season againt Sheffield Tigers on Aprill 12.