ALTRINCHAM KERSAL 13 – KENDAL 15

Kendal wrapped up the North One league title with a below par performance at Altrincham Kersal on Saturday and trailed for much of the game against a side who were fighting for survival at the other end of the table.

Both teams struggled in the opening part of the game with the conditions under foot atrocious due to the heavy rain Manchester had suffered over the previous couple of days.

Kendal threatened in the opening five minutes with No.8 Mark Wilson in particular taking the game to Altrincham but after the first five minutes it was all Altrincham for the rest of the half. Altrincham put the first points on the board in the nineteenth minute when some poor tackling allowed pacey winger Chris Stewart to run round the defence and score an unconverted try in the corner. They increased their lead in the thirty-second minute when Stewart kicked a penalty from in front of the posts after Ian Voortman had been penalised for a high tackle for which he was sin binned.

The scores remained 8 – 0 to Altrincham at halftime.
After a severe halftime team talk from Coach Jon Nicholson Kendal started the second half with far more intensity and after being awarded a penalty which Hoani Moore kicked into the corner Kendal took full advantage scoring an unconverted try from the lineout, Gareth Gore took a good catch and was driven over the try line by his forwards.

But in the fifty-fourth minute Altrincham hit back scoring their second try after a penalty lineout in the Kendal twenty-two, the forwards drove the ball close to the try line from where their centre crashed over for unconverted try which was awarded despite many believing he had grounded the ball short of the line.

The introduction of Kendal substitutes Billy Coxon and Liam Hayton helped to add impetus to Kendal’s cause and from a quick throw on halfway the ball was moved to Coxon and he charged through the Altrincham twenty-two, from quick ruck ball scrumhalf James Gough almost burrowed his way over the try line to score. Two minutes later and Kendal were in the lead. Left wing Luke Ladell was released on a strong run down his wing and he passed inside to centre Brett Ashley from him to score his first try in a 1st XV shirt. Both tries went unconverted but Kendal had done enough and held on for a tight 13 – 15 victory.

They now face Sheffield Tigers at Mint Bridge next Saturday in their final league game of the season and are looking to go through the league unbeaten.