Rugby - Cup brings Halifax to Mint Bridge (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Cup brings Halifax to Mint Bridge

1:03pm Saturday 18th October 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

KENDAL’s growing reputation for sparkling running rugby was enhanced with a 40-12 mauling of Leicester Lions, a victory which leaves the Mint Bridge squad sixth in the table.

There is a break from the league tomorrow (Saturday) when fellow National 3 North rivals Halifax, without a win in six outings so far, visit in the EDF Energy Trophy (3pm kick-off).

Leicester Lions 12.

Kendal 40.

KENDAL made the long journey to play high-flying Leicester Lions and produced a fantastic performance in a great game played at tremendous pace.

The Black and Ambers put the first points on the board after five minutes when Leicester were penalised for collapsing a scrum and Dan Stephens kicked the three points. Another score did not arrive until the half-hour mark when Leicester were caught handling at a ruck and Stephens added a second penalty to the scoreline.

Two excellent defences at this stage and in particular Kendal full back Chris Park, who made some fine last-ditch tackles, ensured that neither tryline was crossed.

Both sides continued to produce slick rugby with Kendal especially controlling possession well and the game’s first try eventually arrived five minutes before half time.

Kendal won good scrum ball and in a flash the ball was moved across the backline to Lewis Boyd on his left wing. With a sharp injection of speed he beat two would-be tacklers and raced down the touchline to dive in at the corner.

Unfortunately Stephens’s conversion attempt rebounded back off the left-hand upright.

Deep into first half injury time, Kendal committed their only real error when a poor 22 restart handed turnover ball to Leicester, who quickly fed winger Gary Marshall to score an unconverted try in the corner, cutting the visitors’ lead to 11-5. An early try in the second half settled Kendal again as John Ladell, playing in the centre, snapped up loose ball in midfield and linked with Park, who had raced upfield.

Although Park was tackled short of the line quickly recycled ball created a gap that prop Billy Coxon galloped through to score besides the posts, Stephens adding the conversion.

Twelve minutes later Kendal forced a turnover and it looked like right wing Zane Butler would sprint in for Kendal’s third try, but full back Gareth Collins tackled him in to touch.

Kendal stole the Leicester lineout and for several minutes the Kendal forwards battered away at the tryline, with flanker Garry Holmes eventually burrowing his way over. Stephens made a stunning conversion from close to the touchline.

Straight from the restart the ball bounced Kendal’s way into Ladell’s hands and he sped away, linked with Boyd.

With Collins in hot pursuit, Boyd switched on the after-burners and scorched in under the posts for Kendal’s bonus-point try. Stephens added the conversion to take Kendal’s lead to 32-5.

A fifth try came soon afterwards with second-row Gareth Gore deservedly crossing the whitewash for an unconverted try. For good measure Stephens kicked a third penalty close to full time to make the score a round 40.

Leicester had little consolation when Collins showed his running skills on an 80-metre counter-attack, converted by Jon Boden.