Blown it!

Jan 21 2008 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD were literally seconds away from destroying Kendal’s unbeaten League record when disaster struck with cruel effect to once again deny the visitors victory at Mintbridge.

Back in November, a disallowed try robbed them of a Cup win over Kendal, but this time it was a critical error by full-back Rob McLaren which undermined Huddersfield’s previous hard work and virtually gifted the home side victory.

Winning 9-6, courtesy of two Chris Johnson penalties and a drop goal, Huddersfield looked to have the game in the bag with the referee and a massive Kendal crowd all scrutinising their watches.

Home stand-off Dan Stephens frantically attempted a long-range drop goal which was way off target, but with the Kendal groans still reverberating around the ground, McLaren – who otherwise had a solid game – collected the kick all too casually, and then finding the attackers bearing down on him he quickly tried to get a touch-finding kick away, which had it been successful would virtually have sealed the points.

In the event he succeeded in screwing it only 20-odd yards straight into the hands of opposing left winger John Ladell who, seeing there was no-one left in defence, simply chipped over the top and watched as substitute back rower Chris Park raced through to gleefully touch down in the corner and start the celebrations among the Kendal hordes.

Stephens missed the conversion, but it mattered not as the final whistle went almost straight from the re-start, and Kendal had made it three out of three over the Lockwood Park men this season.

It was yet another desperately cruel end to the game for coach Mark Sowerby’s team, who had battled away all game.

In truth, Kendal had looked the more likely to score a try, and would have done so earlier, had full-back Hoani Moore not spilled a gilt-edged chance after centre Renier Beser had carved open Huddersfield’s defence on 17 minutes (the only time they were breached until the last 30 seconds).

But, alternatively, Huddersfield had looked more likely to win the game after Johnson’s second penalty strike on 64 minutes had put them 9-6 ahead.

Their defence was resolute and rock solid and they continually thwarted everything that Kendal’s increasingly frantic efforts threw at them.

Both sides looked edgy throughout the first half, each recognising the importance of the contest, and there was little to choose between them, with Stephens and Johnson swapping penalties for offside in the opening 15 minutes.

Moore had a great chance to go under the posts, after Bester’s break, but knocked on, while Huddersfield’s best try-scoring chance came down the left flank when Johnson, Sowerby andHamish Pratt combined to break away, only for the last pass to go forward and halt a great chance.

Johnson failed with a couple of long-range penalties, but did knock over a 38th-minute drop goal (his eighth of the season) to send the visitors in 6-3 ahead at the break.

Stephens levelled the match five minutes into the second half, when Field were again caught offside, and Kendal thought they had snatched the lead when winger Ladell crossed in the corner, but was adjudged to have stepped into touch.

Johnson again made it a three-point game with his 64th minute strike, while another long range attempt fell just under the crossbar.

Kendal captain Ian Voortman, did make one late telling break, only to be floored by an ankle-tap tackle by Ben Paxman, but as the minutes ticked away, so did the home hopes – until McLaren’s last-minute aberration, which will probably give him ample sleepless nights until the end of the season and beyond!

Huddersfield: McLaren; Paxman (B), Collins, Mortimore, Shaw; Johnson, Clayton; Howard, Davies, Stringwell, Sharpe, Rhodes, Pratt, Whitehead, Sowerby. Subs (not used): McPhail, Paxman (L), Sharrock.

Kendal: Moore; Ladell (J), Voortman, Bester, Ladell (L); Coxon, Green, Harryman, Hayton, Gore, Hudson, McKain, Wilson (Park 60). Subs: Martindal, Quarry.

Referee: Jed Stone.