Kendal hopes of victory go west in Hartlepool (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Kendal hopes of victory go west in Hartlepool

9:32am Wednesday 17th October 2012 in Sport

West Hartlepool 28 Kendal 19 National Division Three North KENDAL travelled to the North Sea coast where the ground was soft but conditions were otherwise prefect for open rugby.

Simon Mulholland and Dan Lowther returned to give extra pace in the back division, while young prop Dom Musetti made his first start this season, in what could be his last game before a move to Harrogate, to play closer to his university.

West Hartlepool had the first chance to open the scoring, but a penalty came back off the posts. Shortly after their scrum half Ryan Painter scored, when his pack had wheeled a scrum near the Kendal line. Outside half Stu Waites converted for a 7v0 lead.

After quarter of an hour, Kendal were down to 14 men for ten minutes, after lock Reece Tomlinson was sent to the sin bin for a punch as he entered a ruck.

Twice Kendal did not take points from penalties and were punished when from the second, the ball was lost in midfield and Hartlepool’s Greg Edwards chipped ahead to win the chase to the line - another Waites conversion made it 14-0 at the break.

From a scrum after kick off, Hartlepool replacement scum half Andrew Foreman made an instant impact to extend the lead to 21v0 after the conversion from Waites.

The Kendal pack were gaining control and Hartlepool gave away a string of penalties. Dan Lowther put one into the Hartlepool twenty two and Garry Holmes, who built a strong partnership with Reece Tomlinson, was credited with the try.

Substitute Richard Harriman was next to emerge with a try after a drive from a lineout. Chris Park put over the conversion and the gap was reduced to 21v12.

It was end to end stuff, with Hartlepool’s open rugby contrasting with Kendal strong tight play.

After 25 minutes Kendal’s defence went to sleep and outside half Waites was able to weave his way through for a try, which he converted himself to make it 28-12.

Kendal prop Chesher and West flanker Jon Boatman, were given yellow cards before West replacement Nathan Myers was sent to the sin bin, giving extra space for Harriman to score his second try.Park’s conversion brought the score to 28v19 with five minutes left.

More penalties saw Kendal on the attack, but a switch to the backs saw a pass go astray, and Kendal ended the game empty-handed for the first time this season.

Alarm bells are starting to sound, as Kendal drift towards the foot of the table.