Rugby - Fightback fails to deny leaders (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Fightback fails to deny leaders

1:32pm Saturday 27th December 2008 in

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THE PAPERWORK should be completed to allow Rob Aloe, the Kendal club’s new signing from New Zealand, to be in the squad to face Hull Ionians at home on January 3.

International clearance had not come through in time for Aloe to be included in the squad which travelled to league leaders Caldy and lost 31-20 last Saturday.

“We are optimistic that we can get clearance from the New Zealand authorities for Twickenham in time for the next game,” said Roger Wilson, the club director in charge of registrations.

Dan Stephens suffered a twisted knee in training on Thursday, so Chris Park played at stand-off, but there is an another injury doubt over hooker Duncan Green, who came off early in the game against Caldy.

He has suspected ligament damage, with Allen Martindale likely to deputise in his absence.

Caldy 31.

Kendal 20.

AFTER the heady delights of the EDF Trophy last week, it was back down to earth for a disjointed Kendal side against top-of-the-table Caldy at a damp, drizzly Paton Field.

In a mistake-ridden first half, dominated by penalty kicks at goal, the Black and Ambers maintained a slender lead for over half an hour, with Chris Park slotting over four neat penalties against two from Caldy's Gavin Roberts.

But the most serious news came after only 11 minutes when Duncan Green injured his shoulder and was forced to leave the field. This restricted Kendal's supply of clean ball in the lineouts where Duncan's accurate throwing was missed for the rest of the game.

After a long break when Caldy's Josiah Dickinson broke an ankle, Caldy gained the lead for the first time when Macpherson raced over from a close-in scrum with a neat show-and-go. Roberts converted the try and added a penalty to give the Cheshire side a 16-9 lead at half time.

In the second half, Caldy went further ahead when their captain, Shaun Woof, made a fine break to put his fellow centre Gavin Roberts over the line. Roberts added a penalty soon afterwards.

Kendal seemed down and out at this stage - they had had Ian Ross yellow carded for a technical offence and, with a man down, were struggling for possession. But then Ross returned to the fold and Craig Wilson came off the bench and this sparked a revival.

At last, the Kendal forwards started to play like they did against Blackheath, with close driving, effective pick-and-go tactics and tremendous forward momentum resulted.

Almost for the first time in the game, the backs received some useful possession in a good attacking position, and Ian Voortman drew two men in classic centre style to put Lewis Boyd clear and over in the corner to reduce Caldy's lead to 24-17.

Despite having played poorly for 60 minutes, Kendal were still in the contest. For the next 15 minutes they hammered on the Caldy line. Chris Park added another penalty to reduce the gap and it was "game on" as the pack camped on the opposition line.

The Cheshire lads tackled valiantly but Craig Wilson dived over, but the referee, who was badly positioned, disallowed the try, and suddenly the siege was cleared.

With the light starting to fade, Caldy went back to the other end and Macpherson, their fly-half, capped a fine game by chipping over the top of a static defence to put Mark Turner over for the decisive try, which Roberts converted.

So Kendal were left to wend a weary way home, looking forward to their Christmas break and pondering what might have been.

Park can be pleased with his goal-kicking display, kicking five out of six, but too many players had an off day.

The handling was poor in admittedly wet and greasy conditions and overall, the forwards did not provide the backs with enough ball to win the game.