Rugby - 'Noodles' McKain gets a worthy farewell from Kendal

7:27pm Saturday 20th March 2010

By Richard Daniels

KENDAL gave New Zealander Nick 'Noodles' McKain a fitting send-off for his return home after this National League 2 North match with a 29-16 victory over local rivals Fylde at Mint Bridge.

It was a controlled, well-crafted display from the Black and Ambers that put last week's thrashing by Caldy firmly behind them.

Ball rentention and points accumulation from an energised squad went hand in hand for the hosts in the first half.

Fly-half Mike Scott took over the kicking duties with Mark Ireland out with a broken hand and he kicked two penalties and a drop goal with Fylde replying with a penalty as Kendal led 9-3 after 26 minutes.

Six minutes later, Kendal flanker Flanker Garry Holmes gleefully careered through his brother Alan's attempted tackle to score an unconverted try in the corner following a catch-and drive after the visitors' scrum-half had been sinbinned.

Fylde were gifted a penalty, however, a minute from half time when attempts to keep hold of the ball were pushed to the limit.

Scott's chipped up drop-out from the 22 intended for Gary Hodgson ended up with the flanker isolated and penalised for not releasing.

In the second half an early penalty for offside took Kendal 17-6 ahead as Scott once again obliged but Fylde returned the compliment by the end of the third quarter.

Kendal's concerted pressure forced an error. As Fylde tried to run the ball out of their own 22, a high pass was fingertipped straight into Scott's arms for him to skip over and then added the conversion to extend the gap to 24-9.

Kendal went down to 14 men when Jon Ladell was yellow-carded and Fylde opted for the scrum from the penalty to drive the ball over the tryline to claw back five points.

Kendal finished better and scrum-half James Gough was rewarded with a well-deserved try in the 40th minute after Hodgson had booted a loose ball upfield and Scott kept the foot-race going.

A Fylde defender could only help the ball squirt over the tryline before the onrunning Gough bravely got a hand to claim the touchdown just before the ball ran dead.

Scott's conversion just failed, but this was back to business as usual and probably as satisfying a win as they come against Mark Nelson's raiders.

It was good to see hooker Duncan Green back after injury with a great display about the park and second-rows Liam Hayton and Gareth Gore also impressed.