Rugby - Kendal grit their teeth at Tigers (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Kendal grit their teeth at Tigers

9:21pm Saturday 17th January 2009 in

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KENDAL's adventure in the EDF Energy National Trophy came to an end with a brave, wholehearted display that a 50-27 final scoreline at Sedgley Tigers did not fully reflect.

True, the Tigers looked a cut above for pure pace and power on the counter-attack, but Kendal never relinquished the battle, showed plenty of craft and commitment and scored a creditable five tries to the home team's eight.

Prop Richard Harryman kept up his excellent record in the competition with another two trademark tries from close range and his front-row team-mate Billy Coxon also pounded a way over.

No. 8 Craig Wilson showed a clean pair of heels for a highly satisfying 35-metre gallop to the line when he burst clear from midfield.

Winger Lewis Boyd then showed it was not only Sedgley who had true speed merchants in their ranks when he scorched into the corner from over halfway.

A bold start had brought plenty of territorial advantage little reward in points for Kendal and the Tigers went 12-0 up with tries from centre Paul Wilcock and elusive full back Pete Swatkins, who was a torment whenever he joined the attack.

Tries from Coxon and Wilson cut the deficit to 19-12 after Jones had gone in for Sedgley, but the home side turned round 24-12 ahead when the fly-half went over again just before the break.

The Tigers seemed to be stretching away as Swatkins and then No. 8 Oliver crossed the whitewash to make it 38-12, but Harryman's brace of scores cut the gap to 38-22.

Sedgley replacement Phil Largan showed the benefit of his fresh legs when he went over, but Boyd's long-range run-in cancelled out that effort for Kendal.

Just before the end with Kendal having run themselves to a standstill, Jones cantered in and brought up the half-century for his side with the conversion, but Kendal though beaten were unbowed.