HUDDERSFIELD 14 – KENDAL 21

Well this game certainly lived up to expectations, with both sides going all out to ensure they were the team with the unbeaten record intact at the final whistle. The intensity, skills and determination to win were all on display for the large crowd to watch – including the 100 or so Kendal travelling supporters – and enjoy as this fascinating match unfolded.
Kendal had an early opportunity to score the first points when Huddersfield were penalised for handling in a ruck in the third minute, unfortunately standoff Dan Stephens 40 metre attempt into the strong downfield wind - which many sheltered supporters at pitch side did not appreciate until the second half – was wide of the posts.
The metronomic boot of Huddersfield standoff Chris Johnson gave the home side the lead moments later and a second penalty from his boot, this time kicked from the halfway line, midway through the first half when Kendal were penalised for holding onto the ball gave Huddersfield a valuable six point lead.
When Huddersfield were penalised for puling the man down at a lineout in the twenty-sixth minute Stephens made no mistake with his attempt at goal but when Kendal themselves offended at a lineout three minutes later Johnson re-established Huddersfield’s six point lead.
Both sides had been involved in an almighty aerial kicking dual throughout the first half with Johnson regular punting the ball 60 and 70 metres downfield to touch and if this wasn’t enough fullback Rob McLaren and centre James Mortimore were no mugs when it came to putting boot to ball for Huddersfield. Kendal, who at times played into the Huddersfield game plan, on the whole dealt very well with the aerial bombardment to ensure that Huddersfield could not take better advantage of the conditions.
A minute before halftime things got a whole lot tougher for Kendal when the referee sent off No.8 Rob Quarry for a stupid stamp on scrumhalf Damian Clayton which could have cost his team dear.
However an inspirational halftime team talk from Coach Jon Nicholson sent Kendal out fired up and they tore into the home side from the restart earning themselves a penalty which Stephens calmly slotted between the posts.
Back chat to the referee by Chris Johnson saw him shown the yellow card in the forty-ninth minute, from the penalty Stephens kicked into the corner, they won the lineout and drove for the try line excellent defence kept them out but Kendal recycled the ball for Stephens to have a dart for the line, he was tackled just short but once again the forwards did their job to win quick ball and John Ladell at scrumhalf was able to get in behind the defence from where prop forward Billy Coxon crashed over from close range to score a try that Stephens converted from wide out and for the first time in the match Kendal led: by 9-13.
Huddersfield playing into the wind and with their one man advantage up front changed tactics slightly and began to drive at Kendal through their large pack. On the sixty minute mark the visitors defence finally yielded when scrumhalf Clayton sniped round from a ruck to touch down over the Kendal try line, with Johnson still serving his ten minutes in the bin captain and No.8 Mark Sowerby took full responsibility stepping forward to take the conversion, his attempt ricocheted off both uprights before bouncing out, but Huddersfield had the lead back by 14 -13.
Kendal held their nerve and controlling the ball got themselves field position for Stephens to attempt a drop-goal in the seventy-first minute, it was wide of the posts but Huddersfield offended at the restart kick and Stephens made no mistake with his penalty kick from in front of the posts. That gave Kendal a slender two point lead to hang onto going into the final few minutes.
Huddersfield threw everything they had at Kendal but the ‘Black and Ambers’ using every last bit of effort and energy held firm and Huddersfield were forced to attempt two long range drop-goal attempts into the wind – both fell short and were dealt with efficiently by the Kendal backline that produced the best performances of fullback Hoani Moore and centre Renier Bester so far this season.
Huddersfield raising one final attack flung the ball out wide, under pressure from Kendal captain Ian Voortman the ball was fumbled, Voortman hacked it downfield, Kendal flanker Nick McKain summoning every last drop of energy was first to the bouncing ball and he willed himself on a 40 metre dash to the line and with the defence closing in fast he lunged for the try line to score a decisive try. Stephens missed the conversion but it mattered not as the referee raised his whistle to his lips and blew for full time: a signal for the Kendal celebrations to begin.
As Mark Sowerby graciously commented as he left the pitch “Well done lads, you deserved that win”