A MUCH-CHANGED Kendal team battled all the way on their visit to Rossendale on Saturday – but the home side were just too good

Garry Holmes, Dom Musetti, and John Dervey all returned for Kendal after injury, while Liam Hayton, Danny Barker and Dini Noyo came into the team and New Zealander Nathan McCloy made his debut at outside half.

Ben Dixon was promoted from the bench to replace the injured Kirk Chettelburgh, with Chris Evans on the bench to replace him and Billy Coxon starting for the first time in several years in place of suspended Mark Irving.

Rossendale had the better of the opening exchange, keeping the ball through multiple phases with slick handling, but rarely threatened the Kendal line as the defence held firm.

Kendal slowly came into the game, Dini Noyo at scrum half getting the ball moving quickly – but good defence meant Kendal were often losing ground and forcing outside half McCloy to put in long touch-finding kicks.

Coxon rolled back the years on a number of occasions, making ground with powerful bursts, but after half an hour John Dervey was forced off with a knee injury.

Towards the end of the half Kendal found themselves on a rare visit to the Rossendale twenty two with a good lineout drive, but a player was isolated and the chance went.

In injury time the Rossendale pack made no mistake when given a similar opportunity, driving over for a try in the final action of the half. The conversion was missed.

Kendal started the second half well but Rossendale increased the lead within five minutes from a lineout on the right, with the ball been moved quickly into midfield to give centre Jack Ward an unopposed run to the line, outside half Lewis Allan adding the conversion for 12-0.

After 12 minutes Kendal were reduced to 14 men as Danny Barker was unfortunate to be yellow carded as a tackled Rossendale player appeared not to release the ball and Barker was penalised as he tried to steal it.

From the resulting set play, Harrison Moulding exploited the gap in the Kendal defence to score and make it 17-0.

Kendal struck back almost immediately as Rossendale tried to launch an attack from the kick off but the referee adjudged a pass was forward. From the resulting scrum close to the half way line, Chris Downham broke away to go all the way to the line for a try. 17-5.

Five minutes later, Kendal made a change with Matthew Kaye coming on for Chris Park, and Noyo dropping to full back. Rossendale mistakes were giving Kendal ball and there were a number of good runs as the team pushed for a second try and a bonus point.

But Rossendale sealed victory with a bonus point try of their own as flanker Phil Mills broke through to set up Rob Bramhall for a score which Allen converted.

Yet again this game was far closer than the score suggested – maybe Kendal just need the bounce of the ball to be a little kinder.

Final score: Rossendale 24 Kendal 5

Wirral are the visitors to Mintbridge this weekend.