BackSat 05 Apr 2025 · Regional 1 North West
1st XVKendal
Tries: N Hearn, T Akehurst, A Kimpton (2)Conversions: R JamesYellow Carded: B Brooks, J Adnams (2)
22
33
Kendal Overcome a Disappointing Wirral
Andrew Broadbent6 Apr - 15:13
In conditions that should have suited Wirral's game, Kendal wanted it more ... and subsequently came out winners
For the first hour of this final league match of the season, this was Wirral’s most disappointing performance of the season on a pitch which should have suited their expansive game using their backs but it was the bigger pack of Kendal who controlled the game.
For Wirral JOE ADNAMS was playing his final game before retirement, the other changes were HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE playing hooker, in the backs MARK WILLIAMS was not available so BEN BROOKS played at fly half with the centres being RHYS JAMES and ALFIE KIMPTON, WILL MORRIS continued at full back with GEORGE BURROWS on the wing. The substitutes were JOE FURY, MATT RINGER and DAN HARVEY.
The pitch was very dry of course and with WIRRAL losing the toss played with the wind towards the main road.
The first few minutes saw Kendal gain much ground as Wirral gave away 4 straight penalties and ended when losing the ball in the scrum in their own 20m area and a further penalty enabled Kendal to kick the penalty, 0-3 (7 minutes). When Wirral settle down they play the better rugby (not seen in the first hour) and play was now down in the bottom left corner with the home team applying pressure and resulted in NICK HEARN crossing over 5 m from the corner flag, the conversion wasmissed in the strong wind, 5-3 (18 mins).
Kendal came back again and a grubber kick forward was stopped close to the posts but there was a foul which resulted in BEN BROOKS being yellow carded. Kendal converted the kick from in front of the posts, 5-6 (22 mins). From a penalty we failed to make touch even with the wind and Kendal made progress down the left with a couple of flighty passes (forward!!) but ended with Kendal scoring in the corner and then converting to open up a 5-13 lead on 28 minutes. 8 minutes later good inter play by Kendal opened up the Wirral defence and another try scored in the corner and again converted by Kendal, the conversions were kept low to avoid problems from the wind to increase the lead to 5-20 (30 mins). In the period of the yellow card we gave away 17 points.
On 34 mins, Wirral brought on all 3 subs, with HARRY HAWLEY, BEN BROOKS and CONNOR MOORE being replaced by JOE FURY, DAN HARVEY and MATTY RINGER. On 40 minutes a further penalty to Kendal enabled them to increase the lead to 5-23- the half time score.
At the start of the second half, Kendal kicked dead but Wirral could not make progress up- field but Kendal had control of the ball in the bottom right hand corner but the bigger away forwards powered over the line, the try was not converted 5-28 (54 mins). 2 minutes later from the same position Kendal again forced their way over for a try bonus point but not converted 5-33 (56 mins).
On 62 mins, Kendal had a player sin binned, yet from the scrum, it again collapsed and a penalty given to them! comments were made by Wirral and ended with JOE ADNAMS being sin binned for questioning the referee’s decision.
Wirral now attacked and a number of passes saw them take play up the field but the final pass did not go to hand. This meant JOE FURY came into the pack in view of Joe’s absence in place of ROB PEARL. Wirral continued to progress and close play near the line, led to another yellow card for a Kendal player. Finally after pressure, TOM AKEHURST crossed the line to score and duly converted by RHYS JAMES, 12-33 (74 mins). A couple of minutes later with play down in the Wirral 20m area the ball was spun wide giving WILL MORRIS the opportunity to race 70m down the wing only to be stopped close to the line but was able to pass inside to ALFIE KIMPTON to collect and score, the conversion was missed. In the final minute of the game, good play and passing by Wirral enabled ALFIE KIMPTON to score his second try of the game; this was Wirral’s try bonus point which did not look likely 10 minutes previously to leave the score at 22-33.
Wirral finished 4 th in the league despite today’s defeat.
Next week, Wirral are away at Manchester (who finished 3rd ) in the Papa John’s Cup and this will be a difficult fixture, although we did win at Manchester earlier in the season but subsequently lost at home. Kick- off is at 2.30pm.
At the end of the game, the team gathered together and along with the crowd applaud JOE ADNAMS off the field.
Richard McNeil
For Wirral JOE ADNAMS was playing his final game before retirement, the other changes were HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE playing hooker, in the backs MARK WILLIAMS was not available so BEN BROOKS played at fly half with the centres being RHYS JAMES and ALFIE KIMPTON, WILL MORRIS continued at full back with GEORGE BURROWS on the wing. The substitutes were JOE FURY, MATT RINGER and DAN HARVEY.
The pitch was very dry of course and with WIRRAL losing the toss played with the wind towards the main road.
The first few minutes saw Kendal gain much ground as Wirral gave away 4 straight penalties and ended when losing the ball in the scrum in their own 20m area and a further penalty enabled Kendal to kick the penalty, 0-3 (7 minutes). When Wirral settle down they play the better rugby (not seen in the first hour) and play was now down in the bottom left corner with the home team applying pressure and resulted in NICK HEARN crossing over 5 m from the corner flag, the conversion wasmissed in the strong wind, 5-3 (18 mins).
Kendal came back again and a grubber kick forward was stopped close to the posts but there was a foul which resulted in BEN BROOKS being yellow carded. Kendal converted the kick from in front of the posts, 5-6 (22 mins). From a penalty we failed to make touch even with the wind and Kendal made progress down the left with a couple of flighty passes (forward!!) but ended with Kendal scoring in the corner and then converting to open up a 5-13 lead on 28 minutes. 8 minutes later good inter play by Kendal opened up the Wirral defence and another try scored in the corner and again converted by Kendal, the conversions were kept low to avoid problems from the wind to increase the lead to 5-20 (30 mins). In the period of the yellow card we gave away 17 points.
On 34 mins, Wirral brought on all 3 subs, with HARRY HAWLEY, BEN BROOKS and CONNOR MOORE being replaced by JOE FURY, DAN HARVEY and MATTY RINGER. On 40 minutes a further penalty to Kendal enabled them to increase the lead to 5-23- the half time score.
At the start of the second half, Kendal kicked dead but Wirral could not make progress up- field but Kendal had control of the ball in the bottom right hand corner but the bigger away forwards powered over the line, the try was not converted 5-28 (54 mins). 2 minutes later from the same position Kendal again forced their way over for a try bonus point but not converted 5-33 (56 mins).
On 62 mins, Kendal had a player sin binned, yet from the scrum, it again collapsed and a penalty given to them! comments were made by Wirral and ended with JOE ADNAMS being sin binned for questioning the referee’s decision.
Wirral now attacked and a number of passes saw them take play up the field but the final pass did not go to hand. This meant JOE FURY came into the pack in view of Joe’s absence in place of ROB PEARL. Wirral continued to progress and close play near the line, led to another yellow card for a Kendal player. Finally after pressure, TOM AKEHURST crossed the line to score and duly converted by RHYS JAMES, 12-33 (74 mins). A couple of minutes later with play down in the Wirral 20m area the ball was spun wide giving WILL MORRIS the opportunity to race 70m down the wing only to be stopped close to the line but was able to pass inside to ALFIE KIMPTON to collect and score, the conversion was missed. In the final minute of the game, good play and passing by Wirral enabled ALFIE KIMPTON to score his second try of the game; this was Wirral’s try bonus point which did not look likely 10 minutes previously to leave the score at 22-33.
Wirral finished 4 th in the league despite today’s defeat.
Next week, Wirral are away at Manchester (who finished 3rd ) in the Papa John’s Cup and this will be a difficult fixture, although we did win at Manchester earlier in the season but subsequently lost at home. Kick- off is at 2.30pm.
At the end of the game, the team gathered together and along with the crowd applaud JOE ADNAMS off the field.
Richard McNeil
Further reading