Cumbria came close to winning their opening County Championship game with Staffordshire after they had looked totally out of at half time.
In the end they just failed, losing 26-25, unable to goal a conversion which saw them lose by the narrowest of margins rather than just edging it.
They got off to a decent start at Kendal when the visitors were penalised at the kick-off. Rob Coward struck the penalty well for a three-point lead.
The visitors leap-frogged them after kicking a penalty to the corner and after setting up the catch-and-drive from the line-out, their forwards didn’t quite make the line but as soon as the ball was moved their centre burst through to score under the posts, making the conversion a formality.
A break by home winger Dan Shorrock put his side on the front foot and they were awarded a penalty following a high tackle and Coward got them back to within a point with another nicely struck penalty.
The home side were making life difficult for themselves at this stage with far too many unforced errors and conceding an increasing number of penalties.
Another penalty kicked to the corner led to the visitors’ second score after they secured possession at the line-out.
They drove for the line and although the home pack managed to stop them just short, as soon as they moved the ball again they found the gap and a second converted try.
Cumbria did threaten from a break by Joe Anderson up the centre of the field, which was followed by strong running from Ben Dixon to take them deep into the attacking 22 but then a silly mistake gifted the ball back to the defenders.
In the final minutes of the first half, in an effort to spread the play, a poor home pass was intercepted on half-way and the visitor’s centre ran in to score under the posts to give his side a solid looking 21-6 lead.
Staffordshire still had time to win a penalty before half-time but it went wide and they started the second half the better of the two sides. They were showing much more continuity and won a second penalty which also drifted wide.
Cumbria then started to show a bit of form as they attacked down the left flank and then spun the ball wide right.
Shorrock and full back Charlie Lomas combined to take play to the line and when play came left from the breakdown Andy Rogers burst through two defenders to score behind the posts.
The home side then got back within a score when they opted to take a scrum from a penalty on the visitor’s 22.
Good ball was won and when play came wide on the right Shorrock was able to get outside his man and play the ball back inside to Dixon who crossed unopposed. The successful conversion pulled them back to within a point at 21-20.
There were ten minutes remaining and the visitors looked to be seeing the game out, dominating possession and winning a string of penalties. They were camped on the home line and going through the phases when their winger ventually squeezed over in the corner and that looked to be that as it was virtually time.
Cumbria mounted one last assault and it was then their turn to win a string of penalties as the game went into overtime.
They had one attacking line-out in the right corner and then a second from another penalty.
This time they had their driven maul well set and inched to the line with maul crabbing to the touchline.
They got to the try line and Tom Graham emerged from the bottom of the pile to claim the try and they trailed by one with the conversion to come.
It was seven yards from the touchline into a decent breeze but the kick drifted left and their spirited fightback had fallen just short.
