Kendal win is icing on the cake

Hull rounded off their season with a comfortable victory against a gritty Kendal side with a four tries to one margin ensuring yet another bonus point to their season’s tally. Hull’s intent was plain from the first whistle as they looked to play open rugby from deep in their own half and only good last ditch defence by Kendal kept Hull from scoring in the eighth minute from a catch and drive from a lineout. Kendal were willing to join the party and they were only denied themselves when a forward pass close to the line on nine minutes prevented a try. After ten minutes Joe Stafford, Hull’s number eight went off for a blood injury and during his absence it was Kendal who opened the scoring through a drop goal from their off-half Glen Weightman after 17 minutes. Immediately Stafford returned and Hull were soon back in the ascendancy and after another attack from their own half started by winger Steve Hihetah, Joe Stafford was on hand to open Hull’s account with a fine try well converted by Tomasi Tanumi. A couple of minutes later full back Lee Birch went through a series of would be tacklers and with only the try line to beat was brought back for crossing but despite this set back Hull scored in the 34th minute when Birch sliced through again and Steve Hihetah was on hand to score a try converted by Tomasi Tanumi to see Hull 14-3 ahead. As the half drew to a close Hull had a chance to implement another catch and drive after a penalty in their favour and Tom Price scored fifteen yards from the posts and Tomasi Tanumi obliged with the conversion to see Hull in control 21-3 as the halftime whistle sounded.
The second half saw Hull thwarted by sterling Kendal defence but eventually the pressure told and Hihetah followed up a thunderous break by centre Joe Stafford to score Hull’s fourth try. Although the conversion was missed Hull looked to have secured maximum points. Kendal never gave up and their pacy winger Dino Noyo went very close to scoring after sixty even minutes. As the game drew to its close Kendal achieved a well deserved consolation try when their second row Liam Hayton emerged from a ruck to run in from fifteen yards out with his off-half Weightman adding the conversion to see the score finish 26-10 in Hull’s favour.