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Hayton's View: Trip to Cheshire should tie up title
12:00pm Friday 11th April 2008
BARRING an unthinkable disaster Kendal should begin their championship celebrations in the heart of Cheshire tomorrow (Saturday).
Even a draw at lowly Altrincham Kersal would clinch the North Division One title while a loss, unless by a large number of points, would also suffice.
Unbeaten in 20 league matches and with only two to play, Kendal have a four-point lead over Huddersfield and a massive 127 points-difference advantage.
"Fortune is a fickle thing and Penrith were unlucky to find us on top form in the first quarter of Saturday's game," says Kendal Director of Rugby Chris Hayton.
"Three top-drawer tries all but sealed the game after a blistering start by both forwards and backs.
"Commentators often talk about goals or tries which come 'straight from the training field', but it takes hours of hard work to fine tune the timing or build the patterns which produced our tries.
"It's also true that good luck often has the odour of perspiration about it, as was the case on Saturday.
"Penrith's fighting spirit for the rest of the game will give them a chance, if replicated, to get them the two wins they need to avoid the drop.
"This week is a double-header for the club. A win for the First XV removes any mathematical doubts about us winning the league and gaining promotion while a win for the Seconds, against Wirral, will make them league champions.
"On paper, Altrincham Kersal should not be difficult to beat, judging by their recent run of three consecutive losses, but we play on grass not paper.
"Fighting spirit and pride will be their main strengths as they try to stave off relegation.
"Yet we are back to full strength and all the players and coaches are determined to go through the league season unbeaten.
"Fortune favours the brave so let's go for it."
Tomorrow a coachload of supporters will also travel to Altrincham for the expected celebrations, but Kendal are taking no risks and are fielding a strong squad for the match.
James Gough returns at scrum-half after missing out last week as the result of being shaken up by a slight car accident.
John Ladell, who stood in for him last week, reverts to the left wing, while full-back Hoani Moore steps up to outside-centre, with Chris Park taking the No.15 shirt.
Prop Dan Bowles and second-row Rob Quarry, who both had good games against Penrith last week, retain their places, but regulars Billy Coxon and Liam Hayton are on the bench along with centre Matt Gracie.
The team bus leaves the rugby club at 11.45pm with the supporters' coach following at noon. Kick-off is at 3pm.
Squad: Forwards: D. Bowles, D. Green, R. Harryman; R. Quarry, G. Gore; N. McKain, M. Wilson, G. Holmes.
Backs: J. Gough, D. Stephens; I. Voortman (captain), H. Moore; L. Ladell, J. Ladell, C. Park.
Replacements: B. Coxon, L. Hayton, M. Gracie.
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Prehistoric walk
The interesting brochure you can obtain from the car park at Foulshaw Moss says that more than several thousand years ago the Witherslack Mosses were part of an extensive wetland in what is now the Lyth Valley and on the flat ground west of the Kent Estuary. The Mosses - Meathop, Foulshaw and Nicols - are raised peat bogs brought about by sphagnum moss that draws up, acidifies, and holds water like a giant sponge, creating waterlogged conditions as it grows. Sphagnum grows from the tip, leaving the lower part to die. Waterlogging halts decay of these dead bits that build up and up over thousands of years, to form deep domed mounds of peat that are raised many feet above the surrounding ground. The Witherslack Mosses have dried out partly as a result of forestry and the invasion of scrub. Over time, drainage and peat cutting led to the loss of more wetland and now only significant fragments remain. Specialised peatbog flora and fauna have been unable to thrive because of the area being too shaded and too dry. Recently conifers have been removed and also masses of rhododendrons have been cleared. Hundreds of peat and plastic dams have been installed to bring about the ‘sponge’ effect of the peat. At Foulshaw, the remains of a 15ft to 16ft wide prehistoric trackway has been uncovered. This is believed to have been constructed in the mid-Bronze Age to allow people to cross the once huge wetland. Trunks of ash and birch were laid side by side and supported on logs. Foulshaw Moss is open to the public. Nichols Moss, a really squelchy one, is only suitable for a hundred yards or so before you encounter pathless very wet moss. It is a delight to stand and look ahead but as there is no walkway do not continue. Pause just on its edge from where you might spot red deer. Meathop is a lovely walk but only for those with a permit from Cumbria Wildlife Trust or if you are a member. The parking is difficult. After the first short grassy track, follow a wider track, left, that winds round right by a pasture and into fine conifer woodland. Beyond this a wide walkway takes you out some distance into the moss, from where you will spot all sorts of interesting lowly plants. To visit Foulshaw Moss, on the A590, it is best to approach the entrance from the direction of Kendal. If coming from the opposite direction continue on past the entrance and make use of the Levens underpass to make a U-turn and approach from the north. This avoids trying to make a right turn across a narrow section of the busy A-road. The entrance is not signposted until you have turned off the road. The entrance turn, a cart track, lies just before a large layby on a narrow section of the A-road. Just beyond the turn, stands a huge sign saying ‘Dual carriageway a mile ahead’. To approach the entrance, drive the dual carriageway at Levens until it ends. Continue a short distance along the two-way road and begin to signal your left turn. Watch out for the large sign ahead. If you reach the layby you have gone too far.
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