8:53pm Saturday 28th February 2009
KENDAL returned to winning form in National League 3 North after two defeats with a gritty, workmanlike 21-11 victory at bottom of the table Halifax on Saturday.
Strong-starting Halifax tested the visitors' resolve in an error-strewn first quarter without any points to report.
After 24 minutes, returning fly-half Dan Stephens, who had picked up a dead shoulder injury after taking an early knock, hacked on and bravely dived on loose ball to scoop up a pass for winger Lewis Boyd to make a 40-metre arcing run in for the first try.
Rob Aloe kicked the conversion, while Stephens had treatment and stayed on the pitch, though looking uncomfortable.
Halifax's pack had plenty of go-forward zip and came back five minutes before the interval with an unconverted try from prop Adam Blades following a scrummage after Kendal were twice penalised in quick succession deep in their own 22, the second time for crossing after scrum-half Jimmy Gough got a clearance kick away.
Zane Butler, playing out of position at full back for the injured Chris Park, was sinbinned for putting a shoulder in on wing Ben Mitchell after he chipped over him, and Iain Gordon added the penalty to sneak Halifax 8-7 ahead at half time.
Kendal missed a penalty five minutes into the second half when Stephens hooked his kick just wide.
But Kendal had stepped up a gear and Butler collected a long kick upfield and powered away to find Ian Voortman in support.
After a moderate first half, the skipper provided the inspiration required, and caused mayhem before finding Aloe cutting inside to put Halifax under real pressure. Gough recycled and Richard Harryman moved the ball right for Craig Wilson to be driven over the whitewash.
Stephens ' conversion put Kendal 14-8 ahead, but four minutes later Halifax clawed back three points with a penalty for a ruck offence which Gordon converted.
Shortly afterwards, Stephens was the second Kendal player to see a yellow card, this time for dissent.
But Kendal refused to be knocked off their stride and Voortman chased down Aloe's well-judged kick into space behind the defence and made an immense flying tackle on winger Craig Emmerson.
The skipper cleaned him into touch and from the lineout flanker Gareth Gore was mauled to the tryline and dropped on the ball for the try.
Aloe's conversion bounced on the crossbar and over to take the gap to 21-11.
Garry Holmes and Craig Wilson made big runs looking for the four-try bonus-point when Kendal opted to take a short penalty in added-on time, but the score just eluded them.
However, Kendal had finished in ebullient fashion, with a brave touch to their play, and perhaps needed to after some mistakes and indiscipline earlier on.
Next up is Harrogate at home this coming Saturday.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/trade_directory/