Kendal 14, Bromsgrove 3 (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Kendal 14, Bromsgrove 3

5:04pm Monday 14th November 2011 in Rugby By Frank Jameson

KENDAL produced their best performance of the campaign with a great display of gutsy tackling.

The game started well when the pack heeled the first scrum against the head after only two minutes' play.

Mark Ireland opened the scoring after five minutes, with his first penalty, adding a second only two minutes later to give Kendal an early 6-0 lead.

The game erupted after quarter of an hour, when Nigel Burrows, the Bromsgrove second rower, illegally caught a home forward in the face. After consulting his fellow official, the referee had no hesitation sending Burrows off.

Ben Copson, the Bromsgrove fly half, reduced the arrears soon after this incident with his first penalty, to make it 6-3.

There was a blow for Kendal when Duncan Green limped off with a twisted ankle after 20 minutes, but Matty Houghton, his replacement, showed fire in his loose play, and his throwing was much improved as he started to find his jumpers in the line out.

Copson hit the post with a failed penalty attempt after this, and then the home team started to exert themselves, pinning Bromsgrove back into their own half.

After half an hour, Ireland kicked an excellent 40 metre penalty after offside at a ruck to extend Kendal's lead to 9-3 going into the break.

In heavy conditions after prolonged overnight rain, it was clear that tries would be limited.

After half time, Kendal returned to the attack towards the clubhouse end, and after a fine forwards' drive to the right hand corner, Richard Harryman set a captain's example by gaining the first try of the game. However, Mark Ireland's attempted touchline conversion hit a post and rebounded.

It proved to be the last score of the game as both sides battered each other into submission.

Steffan Thomas set a fine example in the centre, equalled only by his makeshift partner, Ben Craghill, as they set up a midfield wall, ably helped by Ireland.

Nerves were jangling amongt the spectators as Bromsgrove threw themselves at Kendal. Mark Bowman picked up at the base of a scrum near his own line, and after being tackled in possession, a scrum was awarded to Bromsgrove, but the danger was cleared.

On another occasion, Bromsgrove made a clear break down the right wing, but a despairing ankle tap by Kris Bratton saved the day.

Joe Ellis gave away a yellow card in the 71st minute for persistent offside. There was still time for a last minute rush by Bromsgrove as they drove forward again. Bromsgrove’s Lee Ward attempted an over-elaborate pass between his legs at a set scrum to a non-existent back rower, and Davidson saw the opportunity to hoof the ball upfield.

With five minutes remaining, Bromsgrove's replacement forward Steve Blackburn was yellow carded for foul play to give Kendal a numerical advantage once more. They used this to scrummage Bromsgrove off the ball, with another heel against the head. This led to a scintillating break down the middle by Ireland, well-supported by Gareth Gore, and a quick ball to his left saw Bratton haring for the line, but Bromsgrove's scrambling defence closed him down.

After a tense eight minutes of injury time the referee blew for full time, adn the two exhausted sides trooped off the field having given their all.