Green try gives Kendal perfect start to 2012 (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Green try gives Kendal perfect start to 2012

4:52pm Saturday 7th January 2012 in Rugby By Patrick O'Kane, Senior News/Sport Reporter

National League 2 North
Kendal 18
Stockport 17
A DUNCAN Green try seven minutes from time earned Kendal Rugby Club a crucial victory in their battle against relegation.

The Black and Ambers started the day three points adrift of third-bottom Otley and couldn't have got off to a worse start when Joshua Longmore went over in the corner to give Stockport a third minute lead.

Longmore then stepped up to kick the conversion over and Kendal trailed 7-0 early on.

The hosts sprung into life though and won a penalty when Kris Bratten drove forward and Andrew Boardley kicked three points to close the gap on the Cheshire side.

A succession of penalties followed for the hosts but they couldn't take advantage.

And they were to find themselves further behind when the Stockport pack drove over and Longmore added the extras for a 14-3 lead on 28 minutes.

Just two minutes later though it was game on again when Kris Bratten received a pass from Dave Barton on the left side of the pitch and darted for the line to give Kendal hope at the break.

Boardley missed his kick as the wind played havoc but at 14-8 there was a glimmer of hope for the Black and Ambers.

Persistent offending was to have its effect too and Stockport were reduced to 14 men on 33 minutes when Mike Bayssat was penalised for blocking.

Kendal could not impose themselves on the scoreboard with the extra man and the sides went in 14-8 at the break.

Buoyed by the half-time scoreline, Kendal went in search of a match win and Barton closed on the try line just five minutes after the break as he evaded three men, but he was put into touch just metres from the line.

Stockport were to move further ahead though when Longmore kicked a penalty before a replacement turned the game for Kendal.

With 54 minutes on the clock Boardley kicked to touch and Billy Coxon replaced Glenn Chesher.

His impact was immediate as a catch and drive move saw Coxon ground the ball in the 56th minute.

Boardley's conversion fell just short but with 24 minutes on the clock, Kendal were in the ascendancy.

And with just 10 minutes to play Stockport knocked on in their own half and Boardley kicked for the corner.

From the resultant lineout the Kendal pack drove for the line.

The pack was held up but from the 5m scrum, Kendal drove again and Green crossed over to put the hosts in front for the first time in the match.

Boardley's kick dropped short but at 18-17 it set up a tense final seven minutes.

Stockport pressed Kendal back and camped on the home tryline but Kendal held out to earn an important victory ahead of next weekend's trip to bottom side Hull Ionians.

* An earlier report had credited the winning try to Dave Barton. We apologise for the error.