Rugby - Reversed put-in denies Kendal Seconds (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Reversed put-in denies Kendal Seconds

11:31am Saturday 24th January 2009 in Sport By Gazette Sports

Kendal 13.

Birkenhead Park 13.

AFTER the frost induced hiatus, Kendal started brightly against a committed and abrasive Park side, obdurate defence from Tomlinson and Quarry keeping the lively visitors at bay.

Army man Meli at fly-half made a lovely break which Park defended well, but against the run of play Kendal conceded a try to the visiting wingman.

A textbook tackle and steal from centre Bill set him away and he found Nicholson in support to almost produced a score in reply, but an offence at the breakdown resulted in a penalty and Kendal opted for the three points through Meli’s successful kick.

The Kendal pack were gaining the upper hand with props Cartmel and Cooper bossing the scrums and a dynamic blindside surge from No. 8 Hudson set up Coulter to snipe through for a well-worked score.

Facing the elements in the second half, Kendal’s back three of Postlethwaite, Gillard and Moss showed good positioning to field and run back many long kicks from the Park fly-half.

And from one return, Moss surged from 50 yards out on an unstoppable bullocking run for a super try.

With a bit of niggle creeping in to the game, Kendal conceded a soft penalty - a feature of the game - that set up the exciting denouement.

After a mix-up at the base of the scrum, a reversed put-in was awarded to Park, who worked the ball out for the right winger to squeeze in at the corner.

The conversion missed, leaving on reflection the fair result of a draw.