Sheffield Tigers 3 – Kendal 10

Kendal travelled across to play Sheffield Tigers and arrived to find a howling gale blowing down the pitch at a very exposed Dore Moor high above the outskirts of the city.

Kendal playing with the conditions, which really did affect the rugby played, had the first opportunity to put points on the board in the seventeenth minute when Sheffield were caught offside. Unfortunately for Kendal Dan Stephens’s penalty attempt at goal rebounded back off the left hand upright to be safely cleared by Sheffield.

Kendal’s first points did eventually come at the end of the first half. The forwards who performed admirably throughout the game won good turnover ball, it was quickly moved up field and the move was kept alive when a low pass was slung out to No.8 Mark Wilson, he brilliantly caught the ball off the end of the boot laces, the ball was then moved out wide to Luke Ladell on his left wing and he did really well not to get tackled or run into touch as he scrambled in at the corner to score an unconverted try.

Kendal came into their own in the second half as the forwards showed all their grit and determination to deny Sheffield the ball and through strong mauling they created the chance for scrumhalf James Gough to snipe his way over the try line to score a try from close range early in the second half to give Kendal a ten point advantage.

That lead was reduced by three through the boot of fullback Tom Outram when he kicked a penalty in the twenty-sixth minute and Sheffield came mighty close to levelling the scores moments later when a wonderful chip through the Kendal defence was chased by the right wing but in a foot race winger John Ladell used all his pace to win the race to touch the ball down in the dead ball area.

As well as the forwards monopolising the possession Kendal also defended and tackled with purpose with fullback Hoani Moore, especially, on one occasion making a try saving tackle to deny Sheffield.

As full time approached it was Kendal on the attack with an excellent driving maul but time ran out before they could score a third try.