Kendal 43

Eccles 29

KENDAL completed a clean sweep of home of victories at fortress Mint Bridge after an entertaining win against Eccles.

On a weekend when they saw their outside chance of reaching the play-offs finally end - thanks to Kirkby Lonsdale's win at Carlisle - Kendal ran in seven tries in a game where Eccles certainly played their part.

The deadlock was broken after 20 minutes when winger Matty Houghton drifted in off his wing, showed enough strength to break a tackle and canter in under the posts for an excellent try.

Glenn Weightman adding the easy conversion to make it 7-0.

But Eccles hit back with the first of their four tries, Jamie Wright touching down after the ball was shifted from scrum to midfield. Outside half George Oakley added the conversion to tie the scores.

Despite playing against the wind, Eccles looked the more likely to score, but the Kendal defence held firm.

As the half came to an end, Kendal restored their lead when Richard Harryman went over from close range after Liam Hayton was held up just short of the line after a powerful run.

Eccles were still in the game at the break but Kendal came out firing, running in five tries to finish their home campaign on a high.

It took them just give minutes to add to their total, the Kendal pack rumbled to the line with Garry Holmes, almost inevitably, at the centre of the maul, to get the touchdown.

Nathan Wooff was the next to score, on hand to take a pass from Chris Downham who had powered down the left wing from the halfway line before being tackled.

Kendal were now rampant, playing some of their best open rugby since early in the season, and right winger Adam Pashley was next to get in on the scoring act following a break from James Gough. Weightman converted.

A fourth try in 10 minutes and a second for Holmes soon followed, this time making a break to the line, from just inside the 22, after more work in the build up by Gough and Weightman who added another conversion.

Whilst the game was probably now out of their reach, the Eccles players were still looking for more tries and crossed for two touchdowns to cut the gap to 36-19.

But any thoughts that Kendal were finished for the afternoon were quickly dispelled. From the kick off the referee appeared to signal a knock on, but allowed play to continue, and after good work by the Kendal forwards, Weightman fooled the defence, and instead of passing, sailed through himself for a score under the posts, adding the conversion to make it 43-19.

Eccles crossed for a late try which was converted but Kendal's unbeaten home record was never in doubt.

While Birkenhead Park and Kirkby Lonsdale’s wins confirmed them as first and second while the bonus point win for Kendal sealed a third place finish for Steve Whitehead's side.

Kendal finish off with a trip to newly crowned champions Birkenhead Park on Saturday and if they can play with the tempo of the second halfthey could cause an upset.