Sandal hold on to win thriller after 20-point lead is whittled away

A game of two halves saw the home side dominant in the first only to lose their way in the second and having to hang on to claim winning points that has lifted them up to eighth, now eight points clear of the drop zone, writes Howard Newton.

Playing against the slope, Sandal were put under early pressure and went behind after two minutes as Kendal kicked a penalty.

But three minutes later the home side responded positively with the help of a penalty to touch in Kendal’s half. From the line-out Will Henshall broke and with the ball passing through Thompson and Burden it was Archie Milner who had the room to cross. With Tom Hodson adding the extras they had assumed a 7-3 lead.

The game then faltered for a while with Sandal having plenty of possession but seemingly unable to convert pressure into points.

Then in the 22nd minute Sandal attacked with several pick and go exchanges near the opposition line without success. However, after Kendal took a drop-out kick a back move found Mac Walsh who broke through the defence before handing on to Will Forrest who coasted in to score a second try, which Hodson again converted.

Sandal’s next score came 10 minutes later when from a penalty and line-out Walsh again made a telling break before Oli Wigglesworth forced his way over. With Hodson’s conversion the home side was well in control with a 21-3 lead.

Undeterred, Kendal hit back with an unconverted try, but from the resumption Sandal produced a good build-up involving the back line ending with Harry Jukes making the running to the line before handing on to a supporting Archie Milner who crashed over for a bonus point try. Hodson added the extras to make it 28-8 at the interval.

The second half told another story as the hosts lost control with the receipt of three yellow cards, the first of which was received in the 54th minute with the reason being difficult to detect. With the extra player Kendal now mounted an attack to score an unconverted try.

From the restart they were over again with their backs breaking free from within their own 22 before kicking ahead and gathering a loose ball to score. With the conversion made this time Sandal’s lead had been reduced to 28-20 in the 59th minute.

The home team responded with pressure telling as Declan Thompson beat the visitors’ defence to add a fifth try to his side’ s score and with a successful Hodson goal they were 15 points clear again.

Kendal had still more to give and with Sandal receiving two yellow cards after 71 and 75 minutes, leaving the side with 13 players, it was inevitable the visitors would reap rewards. This they did with two converted tries, the second deep into added time. But Sandal held out until the final whistle much to their supporters’ relief.

This Saturday they travel to second from bottom York for another important clash.