Rugby - Happy 18th for Will as Kendal sink Hull (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Happy 18th for Will as Kendal sink Hull

5:49pm Saturday 2nd May 2009 in

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A 28-13 VICTORY enabled Kendal to leapfrog visitors Hull Ionians in the National League 3 North table on Saturday.

Highlight of an often stop-start match came right at the end, a dazzling solo try from winger Lewis Boyd, who whizzed past a clutch of Hull players without a finger laid on him for an 80-metre run-in.

It was a momentous 18th birthday for young Kendal scrum-half Will Voke, who made his first start for the First XV and contributed significantly before he went off with ten minutes left.

Kendal took an early lead through Rob Aloe's penalty, but Ionians went ahead after 12 minutes courtesy of a controversial refereeing decision.

Almost everyone else on the ground was of the opinion an Ionians attacker had spilled the ball forward in the tackle as he dived over the tryline but the unconverted try was allowed to stand.

Kendal clawed three points back through a penalty not long afterwards which Aloe put over and justice seemed to have been partially done.

Young Voke made a great tackle on the touchline to keep play in the Ionians' half and Aloe charged down a clearance kick to collect the ball.

His dart to the line was stopped, but he offloaded for Gareth Gore to sweep round for Kendal's first try, which put them 11-5 ahead after the wind carried the conversion attempt wide.

Three minutes before half time, Kendal rather meekly conceded a try as Ionians turned a scrum to gain the ball and the ball squirted out into their hands for an eary finish from 12 metres.

Boyd's sprint towards the kicker seemed to put him off for the second time as the conversion was missed.

Hull missed a penalty late on to enable Kendal to retain their single-point lead at the break.

There was definitely more bite about Kendal on their return and Ionians had a let-off when Aloe was just wide with a 22-metre penalty.

Superb work by Zane Butler to run back a high ball set up a flowing passage of play, with the forwards roaring into the 22 as Craig Wilson fed Liam Hayton. The ball was spilled close to the line, but Kendal did not have long to wait to make amends.

Two minutes later, Kendal threaded possession from a lineout out wide for Ian Voortman to take the crash ball.

Once again, there was some doubt as to whether to ball was grounded as the skipper flung himself over the line but the try was given and Aloe tacked on the extra for an 18-10 advantage.

Another successful penalty from the Kendal stand-off extended the gap to 21-10, but Ionians cancelled it out soon afterwards.

In added-on time, Kendal produced the biggest cheers of the afternoon when replacement James Gough Boyd secured turnover ball and Voortman set the winger Boyd free.

He left the Ionians defence huffing and puffing in his wake to fly in from 80 metres out and Aloe's conversion was the last piece of play, widening the margin of Kendal's superiority to a deserved 28-13.