Workington 29 – Kendal 36

The large crowd at Ellis Park on Easter Saturday witnessed a really entertaining rugby match between Workington Zebras and Kendal, who battled it out playing end to end rugby in a fascinating game in which the final outcome for who went through into the semi final of the Story Cumbria Cup was in the balance right up to the final whistle.

On a bright but very breezy afternoon it was the Zebras who played with the wind to their backs in the first half and although on a few occasions they kicked it deep for the corners, it was amazing in the conditions that neither side (and Kendal were even more guilty in the second half) took advantage of the wind by properly utilising their kicking games. However from a spectator’s point of view this was only a good thing as it produced an exciting, open free flowing game of rugby to which both sides fully contributed.
As the first half progressed it was soon apparent that the two packs were closely matched and despite quick ball being produced at the breakdown the opening score did not come until the twenty-forth minute. This was mainly due to the solid tackles the Workington side were making and especially fullback Michael Hawley’s tackle on Kendal captain Ian Voortman who looked to be clean through on the try line in the twentieth minute. Kendal managed to build some pressure over the next few minutes and from a driving maul close to the line second row Reece Tomlinson was driven over to score his first try for the 1st XV.

But moments later Workington had scored their first points of the game when Kendal conceded a penalty just inside their own half standoff Kevin Harper made no mistake with his attempt at goal.

Three minutes before halftime the Kendal forwards had again driven the ball close to the Workington line and this time from the ruck scrumhalf James Gough sneaked over from a sniping run up the blindside.

Neither of Kendal’s tries were converted into the wind but they had a 7 point lead however in the final minute of the half Workington pegged Kendal back with an unconverted try scored by hooker Neil Hastings to make the halftime score Workington 8 – Kendal 10.

Kendal’s third try was scored wide out by left wing Andrew Boardley in the fifty fifth minute and he just missed with own conversion attempt. But Workington hit back immediately with their second try. Fullback Michael Hawley hit the back line at pace to burst through the Kendal twenty-two and touch down beside the posts. Kevin Harper converted to level the scores at 15 points a piece.

The Kendal pack then got back into action with second row Liam Hayton crashing over for a try converted by Boardley and re-establish Kendal’s 7 point lead. That lead only lasted two minutes before Hawley again crossed the whitewash to score his second which was again converted by Harper.

In the sixty-eighth minute a wonderful passage of play saw Ian Voortman benefit with a try scored beneath the posts. Boardley converted.

Less than five minutes later and Workington had the put-in at a 5 metre scrum and with the Kendal defence bystanders No.8 David Bowe picked from the back of the scrum and ran round to score under the posts to give Harper the simplest of conversions to level the scores at 29 points each and set up a grandstand final ten minutes.

As the clock ticked down and both sides gave their all in search of that crucial score it was Kendal who secured possession and worked the ball down field for replacement No.8 Mark Wilson to be on hand and take the final pass to score beside the posts. With the final kick of the game Andrew Boardley was successful with the conversion.