After 20 minutes, a Kendal penalty goal opened their account and they came more into contention, scoring a try to make it 10-8 just before the interval. Harrogate then scored 3 tries in the opening 10 minutes of the second half to secure the bonus point victory. Repeated Kendal attacks made it an entertaining game to watch but they were well contained by Harrogate’s defence.

Kendal knocked on from the kick-off, Jonny Coser snapped up the loose ball and ran strongly down the right wing. He was stopped just short of the line but Kendal knocked on again. Luke Edwards came into the line from quick scrum ball, scored near the posts and Luke White’s conversion made it 7-0. Prolonged home attacks continued though Kendal winger, Dini Noyo proved to be a dangerous runner whenever he got a sniff of the ball (he later played scrum half for a period where he also featured strongly). No8, Matthew Charters was Kendal’s other prominent player and the two of them combined well to set up an attack from which Harrogate were penalised. Full back, Chris Park’s kick made it 7-3.

The next major incident was an unfortunate injury to, Harrogate prop, Charley Purkiss-McEndoo. He had to leave the field with an apparent dislocated elbow but was replaced by Josh Peace and the home forward domination was sustained. Kendal came in from the side at a Harrogate driving maul and White’s penalty extended the lead. Then, on the stroke of half time, Charters supported anther dazzling run to score in the corner.

From the restart, Harrogate set up big driving mauls and 2nd row, Martin Dodds scored his maiden first team try. A Kendal high tackle stopped an Edwards break and, from the penalty, a succession of Harrogate driving mauls took followed. Quick ball spread across the line and Oli Rosillo scored in the corner. Still more driving mauls rocked Kendal backwards and this time it was prop, Connor Ward who scored the bonus point winning try.

Harrogate then lost another key forward when Coser had to leave the field with yet another elbow injury. However the home pack remained in complete control and, apart from flashes of individual Noyo brilliance, Kendal were reduced to speculative kicks ahead which were effectively negated by David Doherty and the Harrogate defensive cover.

Harrogate: Doherty, Rosillo, Miller, Riddell, Edwards, White, Hebblethwaite, Purkiss-McEndoo, Maycock, Ward, Dodds, Brady, Spurr, Coser, Heaton. Subs:- Butler, Peace, Matthews.

Kendal: Park, Ashley, Armstrong, Fearon, Noyo, Weightman, Kaye, Cheshire, Green, Musetti, McKay, Whiteman, Greenwood, Houghton, Charters. Subs:- Collinson, Carruthers, Thompson.

Referee: Matt Riley (Northern Division)

match report by Bill Barrack