Kendal got back to winning ways with an important local derby win over Kirkby Lonsdale in Regional 1 North West.
It finished as a comfortable 46-23 victory for the visitors but that certainly wasn’t a given at half time.
Kirkby Lonsdale, without a win so far, were leading 18-17 and after losing to Upper Eden in the County Cup a week earlier Kendal didn’t want to be on the end of another shock result.
Kendal were well below full strength, especially in the backs, but they were first onto the scoreboard after eight minutes.
From a line-out Alistair Thompson gathered and the forwards drove for the line with Dan Reid applying the finishing touches.
Kendal failed to deal with the restart kick and from a line-out the home side earned a penalty which they kicked to reduce the arrears.
Kirkby’s first try followed but there was a query from those of a Kendal persuasion. They took a quick tap penalty away from the alleged scene of the crime and went on to score a converted try.
A second penalty five minutes later extended their lead to 13-5.
Then a mistake at a line-out presented Kendal with a chance to cut the gap.
Barney Coxon grabbed a wayward Kirkby Lonsdale line-out throw to make ground. From there, with the Kirkby backs out of position Kendal moved the ball smartly and Steve Nelson powered through a gap to score under the posts and Dan Lowther converted.
Five minutes before half-time some dreadful Kendal tackling allowed Kirkby to make serious inroads from which they scored an unconverted try.
Almost on the half-time whistle the strong wind caught a huge Kirkby clearance from their twenty two, and it went all the way before rolling over the Kendal dead-ball line.
Play was taken back for a scrum and with Nelson operating at number eight he went for the line but was stopped just short.
The ball was moved left and Dan Shorrock went over in the corner.
Now against the wind Kirkby scored first after only four minutes.
A Kendal pass went astray in their own twenty two, and when Kirkby picked-up they were able to move the ball left and with the help of more poor Kendal tackling went in at the corner.
Then it was a Kirkby handling error whilst on the attack which helped Kendal close the gap.
Lowther hoisted the loose ball towards the Kirkby line and when it stopped just short Nick Carlton tapped it over and did the necessary to make it a one-point game.
Five minutes later Kendal went in front and they were able to stay there until the end.
Liam Hayton took a tap penalty to set up a drive for the line and Joe Lashley got the ball down, with Lowther able to add the extras.
Another Kirkby handling error gave Kendal their next score.
They had the ball from a scrum when it went down and Nelson gained possession for the visitors.
The ball was recycled and McKenzie Cousins, scored with Lowther again successful with the kick.
Lowther then added a penalty and the scoring was completed when Shorrock finished off after more good work by Nelson.
