1st XV
Matches
Sat 15 Jan 2022  ·  North One West
Kendal
22
7
Penrith RUFC Ltd
1st XV
Tries: B TaylorConversions: M FearonYellow Carded: A Howe , B Higgens
KENDAL 22 PENRITH 7

KENDAL 22 PENRITH 7

Mike Sanderson16 Jan 2022 - 19:42
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https://www.penrithrufc.org.uk

PENRITH BATTLE IN VAIN

Penrith, without doubt, put in their best away performance of the season but it was not good enough to beat a good, well organised Kendal side on their own patch. It was good enough to run them close in the first half and make their supporters nervous at half time but not to wrest control from them in the second half which is where the game was decided.
Kendal started as if they meant business when they launched the kick off high and were able to regain possession and put the squeeze on the visitors in their own 22, Penrith's defence was sound and they rebutted this early assault, Kendal then kicked a penalty to the corner but missed their throw but after four minutes their efforts were rewarded as they converted a penalty in front of the posts for a three point lead.
Jamie McNaughton was then quickly up and took Mike Fearon's restart kick and strong running from Andy Muir and Ryan Johnson got their side on to the front foot. A penalty was conceded and McNaughton put his forwards into the corner. They won the lineout and got the maul on to the home try line but couldn't quite get over but it was clearly, game on.
The next telling point in the afternoon was Adam Howe's unfortunate yellow card, the home side's No9 and Howe seemed to slide into one another but he was penalised for a high tackle and Kendal were to score while the visitor's pack was down to seven men. Kendal won a penalty in the Penrith 22 and opted for a scrum being a man up, the visitor's scrum held firm but a series of forward drives were set up and the home forwards inched closer and closer to the line until they finally crossed the line next to the posts. The conversion gave them a 10 point lead.
George Graham stole ball at the tail of a Kendal lineout that was over thrown and the home side infringed to give Fearon a long range shot at goal which went wide. Penrith continued to press and when winning a penalty in the home 22 opted for a scrum, as when back to a full compliment of forwards, were bossing the set piece. They won steady ball and McNaughton came off the blind side wing and crashed the ball up the centre, the ball then came wide to the Penrith threes and Fearon set Brad Taylor up and with the Kendal backs stretched he motored through the gap for a well taken try. Fearon's conversion brought Penrith within three points.
Taylor was then instrumental in almost giving his side the lead, he carried the ball out of his own 22, found McNaughton in support, got the ball back and as the cover closed in on him chipped nicely into the corner, the ball did not bounce kindly for him and Kendal had a fortunate escape. Ben Higgens then took lineout ball on the home line but again the home defence held firm and it was Kendal who finished the half the stronger but at 10-7 at the break the game looked as if it could go either way.
Penrith's followers were hoping the game would follow the pattern of their earlier meeting at Winters Park when Kendal faded in the second half but that was not how it panned out this time. The home side dominated the majority of the second half, it was not down to any let up by the visitors although they did lose the influential Mason Lewthwaite to a niggling hamstring at half time but down to Kendal's control and game management.
They scored from a break down the blind side from a scrum 30m out but the sucker punch for the visitors was they allowed them to score immediately from the restart. From being within a score they now trailed by three scores.
There was no let up in the Penrith effort but they were fighting an uphill battle and although they did manage some time in Kendal territory towards the end of the game the home side were happy to see out time and slow the game down.
The Penrith side could come away with their heads up and know if they play anything like this at Broughton Park this weekend they will come away with the spoils. Everyone of the 18 man squad got stuck in and played their part.

Match details

Match date

Sat 15 Jan 2022

Kickoff

14:15

Location

Competition

North One West

League position

2
Kendal
5
Penrith
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Ladies Sponsor - David Allen
Main Sponsor - Jenkinson's Forest Products