After a week off for county fixtures, Kendal Colts returned to league action with a challenging trip to face preliminary league leaders Liverpool Collegiate.
A brave second-half performance showed what the Colts are capable of, but the slow start proved decisive as they went down 27-18.
Lessons will be learned about the need to start strong and play with intent from the first whistle as this game was there for the taking.
Kendal had travelled without several key players: Kurt Cousins (knee), Matt Capstick (knee), Roan Saunders (neck), Tyler Ogilvie-Booth (shoulder), and Alex Kelso (neck), while Tommy Scanlan was away on academy duty.
Liverpool dominated possession early, using their powerful forward pack to great effect.
Kendal struggled to find rhythm, conceding penalties, missing tackles, and failing to support ball carriers. Liverpool’s aggression at the breakdown earned them multiple turnovers.
The first try came just four minutes in – initially called held up, but later awarded – followed by a successful conversion.
A scrappy spell ensued, with Kendal unable to exploit space out wide for Liam Barr. A promising break from Casper Hoggarth was halted by a head injury to Seth Webster, who left the field and will miss three weeks under concussion protocols.
Liverpool extended their lead after capitalising on a Kendal penalty, moving the ball wide for a second try, this time unconverted.
Defensive lapses then allowed Liverpool to score again, stretching the lead to 19-0 after 25 minutes – the poorest spell of the Colts’ season so far.
Tactical changes followed with Caleb Airey entering at inside centre, Luke Cuthbertson shifted to fly-half, and Iestyn Morgan replacing Ben Perie at scrum-half.
Kendal improved defensively and applied pressure, earning a penalty converted by Jake Bowman before halftime when they trailed 19-3.
The break sparked a resurgence. After sustained forward pressure, John Swallow crossed for Kendal’s first try which was unconverted.
The pack began winning collisions, creating space for the backs. A slick move sent Olly Park over for another score to reduce the deficit to just six points.
Momentum was with Kendal, but Liverpool struck back against the run of play with an unconverted try.
The Colts refused to fold, with Jack Johnson-Murphy, William Dent and Ethan Davies putting in huge shifts. A well-worked lineout move saw Cuthbertson feed Airey for Kendal’s third try, again unconverted.
Chasing the game late on, Kendal pushed hard but couldn’t find the decisive pass. A last-minute penalty sealed Liverpool’s 27-18 win.
Man of the Match was Luke Cuthbertson for his outstanding attacking play after moving to fly-half, combining sharp passing with powerful carries.
