Rugby - Students tick right boxes against try-less Kendal (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Students tick right boxes against try-less Kendal

5:37pm Saturday 7th May 2011 in Sport

KENDAL could not knock Loughborough Students off stride in the last home match at Mint Bridge, going down 30-6 on Saturday, despite a spirited display right up the final whistle.

The Black and Ambers probably at least deserved a try but could not quite fashion one against a muscular, well-prepped promotion-seeking opponents, whose only downfall seemed to be their own over-enthusiasm.

Fly-half Mark Ireland accounted for the home team's points with two first-half penalties, but Loughborough repolied in kind from No10 Matt Kelville.

Errors were critical in an evenly-balanced contest at this point.

And it was the Students who took full advantage of an attacking Kendal losing the ball in contact to craft the first of their three tries from flanker Frederick Silcock after half an hour.

While Kendal stayed competitive in the first half and tackled with great resourcefulness whenever the white wall swept towards them, the reality was they could not capitalise on a yellow-card shown to Loughborough prop Ryan Bowyer.

A smartish start to the second half was required and Kendal flanker Gary Holmes broke clear of a smudge of players to surge into the 22.

Unfortunately, head-up rugby it was not as he failed to get a pass out to wingman Dan Lowther racing up outside him and an excellent break came to nought.

Lowther was yellow-carded soon afterwards for deliberately spoiling play and a Loughborough penalty extended the lead to 16-6.

Knock-ons and errors began to creep in on both sides, with Loughborough benefitting mainly from turnover ball as they poured flesh into the breakdown.

As Kendal tired from their huge workload, Loughborough's motor began to hum and they showed their high level of fitness with some excellent hands at pace.

Another couple of tries followed in the last 15 minutes from Loughborough to tie up the match as lock Charlie Matthews and centre Edmund Rolston crossed, but Kendal flung themselves into a last-ditch effort for a try of their own with skipper Gareth Gore, Duncan Green and Joe Mallinson leading the charge inside the visitors' 22 only to be denied at the death.