National League 2 North: Ionians close on Kendal with six-try victory (From The Westmorland Gazette)

National League 2 North: Ionians close on Kendal with six-try victory

12:20pm Monday 16th January 2012 in Rugby

By Mark Hodgkiss
Hull Ionians 39
Kendal 14
Kendal travelled to bottom place Hull Ionians buoyant after their win last weekend, but had to make changes to their team with the injured Mark Bowman being replaced by Joe Ellis.

Chris Park dropped out with a knee injury so Andrew Boardley moved to outside half and Ian Voortman to full back, with Jamie Postlethwaite coming in on the wing Reece Tomlinson gathered the Ionians’ kick off and fed the ball to Simon Davidson as Kendal had the perfect start.

Davidson put up a box kick for Dave Barton to gather and make a break and he fed Jamie Postlethwaite to score. Boardley converted for a 7-0 lead after less than two minutes.

But the Ionians response was immediate and the Kendal defence was tested to the limits by excellent Ionians ball retention.

After ten minutes defensive numbers finally ran out and Mike Bateman scored before Dave Marshall levelled with the conversion.

Kendal had a chance to retake the lead with a penalty but it drifted wide and Ionians took the lead when Marshall made no mistake when offered a similar opportunity.

Worse was to follow when Kendal lost their own lineout deep in the Ionians half and right wing Sam Wilson made a long break to release flanker Joe Sanders as the hosts moved 17-10 in front.

A third Ionians try looked a certainty, but newest recruit Stephen Hamilton dropped the ball on his run to the line.

His blushes were spared as the strong Ionians pack drove Kendal off their own put in at the resulting scrum, and the ball was quickly moved to Wilson for a try and Marshall converted for 24-7 at half-time.

Kendal had the better of the first 15 minutes of the second half, putting constant pressure on the Ionians line, helped by some generous refereeing decisions.

Regular Ionians infringements though were to forge a way back for Kendal as the hosts were penalised for illegally entering a maul from the side.

A penalty try was awarded and Boardley kicked the conversion for 24-14.

It was to prove Kendal’s last score though as Ionians number 8 Danny Hague powered over for a bonus point and despite being reduced to 14 men by the sin binning of centre Hamilton, Ionians continued to dominate.

The Kendal defence held firm and the Black and Ambers continued to make occasional attacks up field, looking for a score to get them back into the game.

But when replacement Steffan Thomas had to be replaced by Danny Redhead, Kendal’s cause diminished and Bateman went over for his second try before Ollie Marns finished the game at 39-14 by going over in the corner.

With no easy games this season, any three of the bottom six clubs could find themselves in the relegation places at the end of April, three of whom still have to visit Mint Bridge, starting with Otley next weekend.

Kendal: Richard Harryman, Matty Houghton, Billy Coxon, Liam Hayton, Reece Tomlinson, Garry Holmes, Joe Mallinson, Joe Ellis, Simon Davidson, Andrew Boardley, Kris Bratten, David Barton, Leo Mercer, Jamie Postlethwaite, Ian Voortman.