Wirral 10, Kendal 48

WITH virtually a first team on the injury list, Wirral were further handicapped as they lost two forwards to injury in the first-half against a well organised Kendal team as they suffered their seventh consecutive loss.

Ironically it was Wirral who went into the lead in the fourth minute, when a quickly taken penalty enabled James Reeve to cross from 5m out close to the corner.

The lead was not held for long as Chris Downham opened Kendal's account with their first try and converted by Glen Weightman followed by a long distance penalty increased Kendal’s lead to 5-10.

In the period leading up to half time further tries by Kris Brattan and Mike Fearn both converted by Weightman along with another penalty took the away sides lead up to 5-27.

Wirral had lost wing forward Rob Pearl in the 20th minute to be replaced by Adam Sheldon.

For their part Wirral created half chances but could not finish off the moves but problems on the field were exacerbated when the other wing forward James Reeve was injured and replaced by the substitute prop Joe Paton- thus reducing the opportunity for replacements and impact at the breakdowns.

There were periods when Wirral were able to apply some pressure and just before half-time when on the Kendal line it enabled Wirral to pass out wide and although a Wirral player was tackled close to the line, Haydn Long was on hand to pick up and score, to leave the half time position at 10-27.

With the wind behind them in the second half, the third quarter of the game was spent entirely in the Kendal half with much pressure on the Kendal line but too many times the ball was lost and the right options not made.

In this period Wirral were denied two tries, firstly they were deemed to be held up over the line and in the second occasion a driving maul was deliberately brought down a metre from the line.

Although a Kendal player was sinbinned no penalty try was given - the opportunity was then lost.

In the final quarter, the Kendal backs with more ball stepped up their attack and in the 63rd minute achieved their try bonus point with a try by Glen Weightman converted by Chris Park.

Despite the full 40 minutes having been played, Kendal scored two more tries through Weightman and Fearns both converted by Chris Park to give Kendal a deserved victory but the score line did not reflect the effort put in by this weakened Wirral team.