The man from BBC Radio Cumbria aptly summed up the first half as Hoppers left the field 25-0 up as he speculated as to what the position might have been if they had played well! The fact was that Kendal almost completely dominated the first 20 minutes and only at times desperate defence and a succession of errors prevented a score. In contrast, the first and only time Hoppers lifted the siege, Mark Edwards was able to kick a penalty from halfway on 14 minutes to put his side ahead completely against the run of play.
Kendal continued to attack but, after 22 minutes, Matt Hughes pounced on a dropped ball in his own 22, beat his man and made ground before finding namesake, Tom, in support and his chip behind the defence was touched down by Edwards but he put the conversion wide.
Marc Balshaw, on for Luke Cunningham, announced his arrival with a charge in mid field and Tom Ball was tackled just short of the line with a typical sniping run. But at last Hoppers were getting their act together and, in the 26th minute, punished another Kendal error when a miscued clearance kick was returned with interest and Matt Hughes used his pace to sprint in but again the kick failed.
Hoppers kept the pressure on with some good handling between forwards and backs and, receiving the ball some 35 metres out with much to do, Sean Taylor scythed through the defence and powered over to extend the lead.
Kendal at last regained their composure and drove play deep into the home 22 but a quickly taken lineout cleared home lines and, as the half drew to a close, Edwards’ grubber got a fortuitous rebound off a defender and Paul White gathered for the easiest of touchdowns. Edwards at last found his kicking boots and Hoppers had the bonus point in the bag and were 25-0 up at the break.
The beginning of the second period was almost a replay of the first with the Cumbrians again taking the game by the scruff of the neck and at last making the pressure tell as hooker Duncan Green was bundled over from a catch and drive, Mark Ireland converting. Hoppers came near after a powerful midfield burst from new signing Danny Halliwell but Kendal repeated their successful tactic with another forward drive and prop Richard Harryman claimed the touchdown, this time unconverted to bring the deficit back to 13 points with 20 minutes still to play.
With their once commanding lead under threat, Hoppers raised their game with Tom Hughes breaking the defence and, after a long rolling maul had made ground, Edwards’ found White with an inside pass and the winger used his pace and power to race in wide out after 66 minutes.
Hoppers were straight back on to the attack and made the game absolutely safe in the 70th minute when Edwards’ pin point cross kick was fielded by White who rounded the defence for his hat trick and this time the kick was good.
With nothing to lose, Kendal had another throw of the dice and some careless defending allowed Simon Mulholland to weave his way through to the line and he completed the conversion in the 78th minute.
Coach Dave Baldwin is a hard task-master and, while satisfied with the bonus point win, judged his side’s performance to be ‘below par’, especially conceding three tries in the second half and is looking for improvement in future games against stronger opposition.
It is however Hoppers sixth win on the bounce which they will hope to extend at Harrogate next Saturday
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