KENDAL rugby club took on Rossendale in a match they needed to win in order to avoid dropping into the bottom three.

For a third game in a row Kendal did not make the best start. After five minutes from a lineout on the right the ball was moved left for speedy wing Leon Simpson to evade some poor tackling for a try in the corner 5v0, Unfortunately the referee had had his back to play, keeping the Kendal backs on side when the ball appeared to be knocked on in the build-up.

Rossendale had a second try after ten minutes. A good break down the right wing was stopped with a tackle near the line, but the referee adjudged it was dangerous, and awarded Rossendale the penalty, which was put to touch for the forwards to drive to the line for the score, which this time was converted by outside half Lewis Allen. 12v0.

A tough afternoon ahead looked on the cards, with Rossendale’s quick hands and excellent interplay seeming to give them an extra man in the back division. Kendal however were about to step up several gears to play their best rugby of the season.

Kendal were competing for every ball, giving Rossendale no time, which clearly had them rattled. When Kendal were penalised, there was an altercation on the ground, and the referee reversed the penalty for Rossendale dissent, but the long range penalty failed to hit the target.

Matthew Kaye was having an excellent game, keeping the ball moving quickly from the breakdown with plenty of options being offered from the players around him.

More excellent attacking play, set up a further Chris Park penalty, with Will Montgomery, Liam Hayton and Dini Noyo all making ground. 17v12.

A further try, this time from Dini Noyo, gave Kendal the chance to pull ahead. However the conversion bounced back from the posts, leaving the teams level at half time.

Kendal continued where they had left off and, after excellent build up play, Mike Fearon, managed to weave his way through the Rossendale defence, then break through some tackles, to go over for a try under the post, with Chris Park adding the simple conversion. 24v17.

Rossendale came back and tested the Kendal defence for a long period, finally scoring another try.

Finally after sustaining the long period of Kendal pressure, Rossendale managed go break out, taking play to the other end of the field. More quick handling saw the ball moved to Leon Simpson who had looked dangerous whenever he had the ball, and he went over for the try to give Rossendale the lead, with outside half Lewis Allan adding the conversion. 24v29 with ten minutes to play.

Will Montgomery then seemed to be through, but was stopped on the line, however moments later the referee headed behind the posts and awarded a penalty try.

There was a moment of confusion, as now penalty tries are worth seven points and do not need to be converted, so Kendal had the lead, with two minutes of normal time plus injuries to play. 31v29.