KENDAL 24 – PENRITH 0

Kendal entertained, in every sense of the word, the large Mint Bridge crowd on Saturday in the opening quarter of their Story Cumbria Cup semi-final against Penrith.

Kendal set off like an express train running in three tries to score nineteen points after only seventeen minutes. However they did not manage to keep up that momentum which was not helped by a very heavy hail shower ten minutes before halftime and also after a slow start Penrith found their game and competed strongly for the remainder of the match.

A brilliant break through mid field by fullback Hoani Moore set up Kendal’s opening try in the fifth minute, he broke into the Penrith twenty-two and as he was finally tackled the ball came loose which quick as a flash standoff Dan Stephens scooped up and strode in to score beside the posts, he converted his own try.

Three minutes later tremendous interplay between backs and forwards, as the ball was superbly kept alive by passing out the tackle, moved the ball downfield at pace and after being transferred through at least ten pairs of hands the ball was moved out to Luke Ladell on his left wing and he streaked in to score an unconverted try in the corner.

A free kick awarded to Kendal for a lineout infringement set up Kendal’s third try. Prop forward Dan Bowles powered his way through the Penrith defence and flanker Garry Holmes was on his shoulder to take the pass and dive in besides the posts for a try converted by Stephens.

That was the last of the scoring until the second minute of second half injury time when Kendal worked an opening that Luke Ladell did brilliantly well to finish off with his second try of the afternoon.
Kendal now face Aspatria at Penrith in the final to be played on the 26th April.