Rugby - Kendal face Penrith in Cumbria Cup final (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Kendal face Penrith in Cumbria Cup final

10:49am Wednesday 27th April 2011 in Sport

KENDAL wore down Aspatria 38-5 in a full-blooded Cumbria Cup semi-final for a place in next Tuesday's final against Penrith at Keswick RFC (7pm kick-off).

Hard driving from the Kendal forwards and scintillating handling by their young and pacy backs did the job last night (Tuesday).

But Aspatria did not give up without a fight, scored an excellent try of their own, and could have had more but for sound defence and teamwork from the visitors.

In the first half, Aspatria threw everything at Kendal, but gave away too many penalties in their own half.

Their indiscipline cost them dear as Mark Ireland rattled over three successive kick followed by a superb midfield break by Jamie Postlethwaite who, backed up by Ben Robinson, timed his pass superbly for Robinson to touch down under the posts for the only try of the half, converted by Ireland.

Aspatria came storming back after half time into the Kendal 22, and Mike Scott placed a penalty perfectly into the corner.

From the resultant line-out, Aspatria again won possession, and Scott dabbed a neat ball over the heads of the onrushing Kendal defence, to find Trinnion charging through, closely followed by his pack, his hooker Dennis Benson gaining a well deserved touchdown.

This was one of the last times that Aspatria threatened the Kendal line, as the Black and Ambers relied on their heavyweight bench - due to unfortunate injuries to Garry Holmes, Dan White and Mattie Houghton.

Leo Mercer scored an excellent try, followed by two more, both scored by Andrew Quarry, both converted by Ireland, who also kicked a penalty.

Kendal deserved to go through to the final against Penrith, their second-half performance crushing their valiant opponents.

The final will take place at Keswick, next Tuesday evening at 7pm.