Rugby - Six-try flying start for Kendal (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Six-try flying start for Kendal

10:25am Saturday 13th September 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

KENDAL started a new life in the National League where they left off last season with an impressive 34-13 home win over Darlington Mowden Park, but tougher opponents undoubtedly lie ahead, writes Richard Daniels.

Away form is likely to be the key to Kendal’s fortunes and tomorrow (Saturday) they face a lot of time on the road to get to Hull Ionians (3pm kick-off).

Prop Billy Coxon returns from a family holiday and goes straight into the starting line-up with Richard Harryman, having injured an elbow, among the replacements.

In the backs, New Zealander Zane Butler gets his first start in at centre after coming on during the second half of last Saturday’s game. He takes over from Brett Ashley, who is also on the bench along with Rob Quarry, Joel Howse and Dan Murray.

Kendal........................34 Darlington MP...........13. .

SIX tries but it was the manner of the way Kendal blended together and closed down the opposition in this side’s first experience of National League rugby that was so impressive.

Powerful forward play and some devastating breaks from the backs were a potent mix that had Darlington looking out on their feet and in need of fresh legs after half time.

It is not wise to make a habit of shipping early points though and Kendal might not be let off so lightly next time after they trailed to two early penalties and a 6-0 deficit after ten minutes.

Mowden fly-half and kicker John Benson was unerring with both attempts from 30 metres out after the visitors used the strong wind to gain terroritorial advantage and test Kendal’s nerve.

What was heartening as Mowden pressed was Kendal’s resolve not to concede and it was typified at the lineout, where Liam Hayton twice won the ball against the throw, while fellow second-row partner Gareth Gore stole another on the edge of the home 22.

That sort of repair-work breathes life into the team engine-room and Kendal were soon treating precious possession they secured with the respect it deserved Skipper Ian Voortman lined up some lovely angles in the centre with Brett Ashley trying to burst through more ruggedly, and the probing soon became cont-agious against a suspect-looking Mowden defence.

The signs were there when Voortman linked up with centre partner Ashley, who was tackled just short of the touchline.

The first Kendal score came on the half-four as a Dan Stephens break set up the forwards to rampage forward with a tremendous display of recycling before flanker Garry Holmes took the final pass to power over. Stephens failed with the conversion but Kendal were only a point adrift.

There was no looking back for Kendal up to half time. Craig Wilson made handsome yardage from the back of a scrum and when the ball went to ground, Craig Wilson hacked it on.

With the speed of recycling once again lightning, Voortman picked up from the ruck to burst over and give Kendal a 12-6 half-time lead.

Mowden sought to to raise their game in the second half and again some great defensive resilience kept them out.

Instead Stephens slashed through the gain line after 50 minutes and Gareth Gore's powerful drive from the ruck found Holmes in support again to sprint in for his second try.

Changes disrupted Kendal for a short spell and Mowden Park capitalised as full back Lithgo burst clear and offloaded to give winger Gavin Clegg the converted try, cutting the deficit to 17-13.

But Lithgo became the villain as Kendal winger Lewis Boyd collected his chip and a slick inter-change with Stephens released Voortman for a lung-bursting 28-metre dash over the line.

Quick off-loading by the forwards again allowed Zane Butler and Lewis Boyd to spring free with some eye-catching running and they combined before Rob Quarry finished off with Kendal’s fifth try and a 29-13 leads A weary Mowden suffered the final blow in the 77th minute after Dan Murray chased down a kick but was held up over the line. The five-metre scrum saw Mowden buckle back over their line leaving a simple touchdown for Craig Wilson and giving home supporters all the right vibes for coming campaign.