Last updated at 16:19, Tuesday, 08 January 2013

HAWCOAT Park maintained their unbeaten Cumbria League record with victory against a very determined and young Kendal A.

The visitors, missing skipper Jason Priss – who had cried off with a stomach bug – put their first points on the board midway through the first half when full-back Jon Moses fielded a clearance kick before setting off on a good run.

His pass found Matt Burrows on the wing, who showed skill and speed to beat his opposite number on the outside and score, with fly-half James Howden slotting over a good conversion.

Kendal came back but good defensive work from Brad Morrow, Adam Grainger and Tim Clark kept the home side at bay. They did, however, deservedly kick a 30-metre penalty goal for 7-3 at half-time.

In the second half hardworking back row Mike Lightfoot spent 10 minutes on the side lines with a yellow card for a technical offence, and the players were becoming frustrated that set moves which had normally brought success were not working out.

Perhaps guilty of trying to over-complicate play, they saw the Kendal fly-half intercept a pass to go on a 40-metre run before parting to his supporting pacey centre who touched down and a successful conversion saw the score at 10-7 to the hosts.

It was not long, however, before the nerves were settled somewhat when scrum-half Sam Hilton, (pictured), who was outstanding on the day, charged down a clearance kick to follow up and touch down by the posts, and Howden added the extras, 14-10.

For the next 15 minutes or so the game could have gone either way, Kendal were proving a difficult nut to crack, but the bigger maroon and white pack were starting to show how they have played as one unit previously this season.

Following a good run by Mark O’Halloran and smart close-quarter work by Liam Ducie, Hilton slipped a neat short pass to man-of-the-match Lightfoot,who forced his way over by the posts, and Howden’s conversion was again successful, 21-10.

The final 10 minutes were all played in the Kendal 22 as Hawcoat pounded away looking for a fourth try which would bring a bonus point.

Matt Sayle and Andy Graham both went close before centre Chris Burns showed off his elusive running to slice through and score.

While Lightfoot and Hilton were the stand out performers, the back three of full-back Moses and wingers Burrows and Kaighan, plus Graham when he came on as replacement, all had sound games.

A good day was made even better with the A-team beating table-toppers Creighton.

First published at 16:14, Tuesday, 08 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk