After narrow losses in the last two outings and with only one win from 6 we desperately needed the maximum 5 points from this game, not only to improve the look of the league table but to bring a much needed confidence boost to the squad.

Stu Waites struck the post with an early penalty goal but we maintained pressure and got the opening score on 7 minutes through Ryan Painter. A scrum near the right touchline wheeled in-field and when Stew Grazier picked up he found himself in space and was able to slip an inside pass to Painter who went in for the try untouched.

We continued to dominate the early stages and displayed some of the pace and support play which has been lacking since the opening day win over Birkenhead Park. Had it not been for some poor handling we could well have been further in-front before Greg Edwards doubled our lead just before the half hour. His chip ahead up the right touchline was well judged and despite close attention from Kendal fly-half Chris Park, he won the foot race to the loose ball. Waites added his second conversion for a 14-0 lead.

Andy Foreman replaced Painter at half-time and his impact couldn’t have been much more immediate. Barely a minute had been played when Adam Coates made a break from half-way and found Foreman who made the finish from 30 metres look easy. The simple conversion took the score to 21-0 and we looked to have the game well under control and by contrast, the visitors has barely threatened the try-line.

They were soon to put that right as first a rolling maul powered it’s way over the line and then number eight Garry Holmes went over from short range, Park converting the second try. In less than 10 minutes it brought the Cumbrians back into the game and with the penalty count mounting against us nerves were starting to build.

Waites eased those nerves somewhat with a superb solo try 15 minutes from time. Slipping through a gap in the backline he raced away, rounding the full-back for another score under the posts securing the bonus point in the process.

Kendal were still not done though and we spent most of the last 10 minutes on the back foot. Both sides were reduced to 14 when Jon Boatman and Glen Chesher saw yellow and moments later Nathan Myers joined them after a series of offside decisions. It was no surprise when prop Dominico Musetti powered his way over the line to reduce the arrears to 9 points.

Thankfully we rode out the closing 5 minutes and avoided a third straight nail-biting finish. A daunting trip to unbeaten Harrogate awaits next Saturday but returning to form at home is the key factor in climbing up the league and with three of the next five games coming at Brinkburn this result couldn’t have come at a better time.

West: 15 Colin Cheslin 14 Steve Jones 13 Andrew Cheslin 12 Luke Watson 11 Greg Edwards 10 Stu Waites 9 Ryan Painter 1 Ian Pinchen 2 Andrew Rollins 3 Adam Coates 4 Andrew Davies 5 Michael Hogan 6 Dan Boatman [capt] 7 Jon Boatman 8 Stewart Grazier 16 Andrew Dixon, 17 Andrew Foreman, 18 Nathan Myers. Tries: Painter, Edwards, Foreman, Waites Cons: Waites 4

YC: Coates, J Boatman, Myers

Kendal: 15 Simon Mulholland 14 Kale Hutchings 13 Alistair Thompson 12 Dan Lowther 11 Nathan Woof 10 Chris Park 9 Simon Davidson 1 Glen Chesher 2 Dave Peacock 3 Dominco Musetti 4 Laim Hayton 5 Reece Tomlinson 6 Peter Redhead 7 Tom Voke 8 Garry Holmes 16 Richard Harryman 17 James Thompson 18 Andrew Boardley Tries: Peacock, Holmes, Musetti Cons: Park 2 YC: Tomlinson, Chesher