KENDAL 43 – SHEFFIELD TIGERS 0

Kendal finished the league season in a style fitting of unbeaten league champions with a seven try victory over Sheffield Tigers, in front of the largest crowd of the season, at Mint Bridge on Saturday.

Kendal were made to work hard for their victory by Sheffield who came to play rugby and ran the ball at every opportunity but lacked that crucial decisive finish and against the best defence in the league failed to cross the try line.

Kendal opened the scoring in the tenth minute when John Ladell’s superb pass out of a tackle close to the Sheffield try line was gratefully grasped by standoff Hoani Moore who touched down to score his first try of the season for Kendal. He scored again twelve minutes later, the forwards gained excellent territory from a series of pick and drives and on the edge of the Sheffield twenty-two the ball was released to Moore and a wonderful looping run took him round the defence to score beneath the posts. Fullback Chris Park converted both tries to give Kendal a 14 – 0 lead. The scores remained the same at halftime.

Kendal’s third try came in the sixteenth minute of the second half. A flowing move up field was finished by No.8 Mark Wilson who took Luke Ladell’s well timed pass and showing good strength shrugged off the cover tackle to score an unconverted try in the corner.

Ten minutes later winger John Ladell scored when the ball was moved across the field at pace and he took the final pass to score an unconverted try.

Kendal then cut loose and went onto score three more tries in the last twelve minutes. Firstly scrumhalf James Gough with a lovely faint at a scrum in his own twenty-two wrong footed the defence and raced up field, he passed to Moore who dived in under the posts to complete his hat-trick. Park converted to make the scores 31 – 0.

A spilled Sheffield pass in their own twenty-two was pounced upon by Hoani Moore and he kicked the ball on to run on and touch the ball down for his fourth try of the game.

Kendal probably left the best try until last. The ball was quickly moved onto the right wing and excellent linking by Gough and John Ladell released flanker Nick McKain, who showed a good turn of speed to race 60 metres on an unopposed run to the line and score Kendal’s seventh and final try, with the final kick of the game Park converted. The referee blew the final whistle and the celebrations started as the league trophy was presented to Kendal captain Ian Voortman.