Match report Saturday 21st April 2018 North Premier League. Kendal RUFC vs Ilkley RFC Venue: Mint Bridge, Shap Road, Kendal. Result: Kendal RUFC 14 pts, Ilkley RFC 34 pts.

A setting to rival that of Stacks Field and a magnificent Clubhouse greeted the Dalesmen and their travelling support on the club’s last match of the season. There was even a chanteuse to belt out the World in Union and Swing Low, just before the teams took the field. All very nice indeed, but there was the small matter of a match to play, with both sides hoping for a win that would see them finish 7th. Mid-table maybe, but there was nothing at all mediocre in Ilkley’s approach to this game, as the side carried on from where they left off last week, having put much-fancied Lymm away for the second time in the season. Rhys Morgan’s men always looked the sharper of the two sides, with only a marginal forward pass preventing a try for Tom Milner after Ben Magee had made the first of several break-outs. But just like last week, it was the hosts who scored first, the try coming from a text-book backs’ move, well finished by the strong running right wing Kris Bratton.

A well-struck kick from full-back Chris Park gave his side a 7-0 lead. This lasted all of five minutes before Ilkley struck back. Regaining possession around half-way, Charles Morgan’s exquisite dummy made good ground before the ball reached the supporting Pat Power to score under the posts: the kick secured, it was 7-7 and Ilkley were not to go behind again. The first of rather too many lines was lost, but when Kendal lost the ball in the tackle, Magee was on hand to tidy up and with the support of the tireless Ollie Hotham, the ball was flashed out to Josh Hall on the right wing, who was able to outpace his opposite man to touch down in the corner. No conversion, but 7-12 to the Dalesmen. Park and Morgan both missed penalties, the latter’s being awarded when lock John Dervey saw yellow for over-zealous use of the boot. Kendal continued to kick the ball towards the Ilkley back three, who didn’t put a foot wrong in the fielding department all afternoon and Ilkley’s third try arrived after Hall was tap-tackled when a try looked certain and Kendal cleared to touch. A crooked line handed the advantage back to Kendal, but when they kicked away possession yet again, there was Magee and Atkinson on hand to counter, some great inter-passing setting J-H Johnson for a canter under the posts – 7-19. Ilkley’s bonus-point try followed shortly, after Kendal were penalised for a high tackle. Morgan’s kick to touch meant a clean line was required – duly delivered. Kendal defended desperately, but not well enough to prevent Tom Milner taking a great pass to go in under the posts. To widespread astonishment, the kick missed – even the scoreboard couldn’t believe it. Enough time remained in the half to see Ilkley lose a scrum against the head, but Johnson’s tackle on his opposite man forced a knock-on and half-time was called. The second half very much mirrored the second half against Lymm. Kendal finally got the message that they would get nothing from kicking possession away to the Ilkley defence and they started to use the avoirdupois of their pack, though driving mauls in the middle of a dry pitch failed to produce a good enough attacking platform. Before that though, a huge tackle on the Kendal catcher from the kick-off led to a penalty for not rolling away and Magee took over kicking duties, slotting the penalty. Ilkley’s defence was immense again and indeed, it needed to be as Kendal battered away, mauling well and forcing one or two errors. Ed Brown, deputising very well for Jack Maplesden, had a kick charged down, but was nevertheless right there when it mattered to clear to his 22. Another clearance of the lines, this time via Johnson and Magee swapping passes to reach half-way, coughed up another penalty when Kendal held on too long. Ilkley earned

a put-in from the line, but when a rare break-down in communication at the base of the scrum led to Kendal regaining possession, the pressure finally told. A good passage pf play by the hosts eventually led to a try wide out on the right by returning bad boy Dervey. Park’s great kick narrowed the gap – 14-27. Into the last quarter of the game and with replacements Steven Burns and Dan Lawrence on, Ilkley underlined their superiority when they took full advantage of a well-won line, some patiently controlled phases and a sublime pass off Charles Morgan’s left hand to put Hall in for his second. Magee’s kick was the coup de grace for Kendal and heads went down. The Ilkley front row then showed their mettle, taking command for the rest of the match – all credit to Josh Cockerham, Harry Wales and Ollie Hotham for coming out on top and the same can be said for the young pair of locks, Pete Erskine and Matt Burke, who did more than their fair share in both tight and loose. The remaining minutes ticked by, Kendal doing their utmost and Joe Lowes, Johnson and Power smashing everything that came their way. Atkinson delivered a 60m clearance kick and the game finished with the Dalesmen winning 14-34 and securing that seventh place. Skipper Elliot Morgan led his side off to the generous applause of both opposition and crowd, knowing that this was a job very well done. Summer is upon us now and it is time for a well-earned rest – or did I hear something about sevens? Sean Crannigan 21.4.18 Images of this season and previous season’s games may be viewed and purchased from www.Ruggerpix.com