KENDAL go to Wharfedale on Saturday for the penultimate match of their National League Division 2 programme in the knowledge that it is an absolutely crucial encounter for the opposition.

While relegation is the prescribed lot of the Black and Ambers, the Dales side are still battling to avoid the drop.

An impressive upturn in form suggests Wharfedale might preserve the status quo, but nothing is guaranteed with Nottingham, Newbury and Launceston also striving to avoid the third relegation slot and just two matches

to do it.

Wharfedale's 14-9 victory over Doncaster left Nottingham in the hot seat, although only a point ahead of those rivals, with just another point separating them from

Newbury and Launceston.

Kendal will be hoping to do themselves justice and at least to take back home the Peter Kremer Memorial Trophy, which goes to the winner of the annual fixture between these sides.

Kendal Director of Rugby Chris Hayton said: "We'll be playing for pride - there's nothing else we can do in terms of results to help us and it's a chance for players to see what they got inside themselves.

"Wharfedale are not out of the woods and they will have everything to play for."

Kendal call up Duncan Green from the Seconds at tight-head prop in place of Ian Thompson, who is serving a one-match ban after receiving three yellow cards.

Team: D. Stephens, J. Balmer, M. Armstrong, I. Voortman, T. Whitehead, M. Scott M. Airey, A. Bateson, P. Skillen, C. Wolstenholme, M. Capstick, K. Robinson, D. Green, I. Gowing, N. Pearson.

Replacements: A. Holmes, A. Hudson, S. Healey, J. Hadwin.

The coach leaves Kendal Cricket Club at 12 noon.

Kendal U13s and U15s also go to Wharfedale to play junior matches as a curtain-raiser at 1pm.

The Seconds are home to Wharfedale in the Merit League.

County Cup

KENDAL bowed out of the Thwaite Cumbria Cup, losing 23-10 to Wigton at Lowmoor Road in the quarter-finals after the sides has been locked together at 10-10 when they turned round.

Dave Preston had scored the Kendal try, converted by Lol Horne who also added a penalty. John Allen had countered for Wigton with a try, converted by Tane Manihera who also put over a penalty.

Wigton went on to win the game in the second half with a try by David Warwick, converted by Manihera who also kicked another penalty and put over a drop goal.

There had been speculation that Kendal would send a beefed-up A team to contest the cup-tie, but it was very much a second team on display.

Holders Workington lost their grip on the cup, beaten 29-10 by Aspatria, the team that lost to them in last year's final.

In next Tuesday's semi-final Aspatria will host Penrith, who saw of Cumbria League opponents St Benedict's 32-0, while their neighbours Wigton must travel to Carlisle.

Their semi-final opponents will be Penrith who saw-off the challenge of Cumbria League opposition St. Benedict's 32-0 at Winters Park.

n Kendal Seconds beat Fylde 23-15 in the Merit League last Saturday with tries by Tim Whitehead and Aaron Myers. Andrew Boardley kicked two penalties, two conversions and a drop goal.

Knockout

THE DRAW has been made for this year's Westmorland and Furness Knockout. First round: (A) Kirkby Lonsdale v Windermere; (B) BAE Systems v Millom; (C) Upper Eden v Furness; (D) Ambleside v Kendal Seconds. Semi-final: Winners (A) v Winners (B); Winners (C) v Winners (D).

(First round to be played no later than April 19/20, semi-final April 26/27; Final, May 3.)

Upper Eden 2nds and Kendal 3rds are favourites to fight out the final of the Westmorland & Furness Trophy, which is initially run on a round-robin basis. Windermere 2nds are lying third and BAE Systems 2nd fourth ahead of this

Saturday's matches.

Super Tens

BRIAN Gornall, the former Kirkby Lonsdale and Westmorland player who is England Schools coach returned to the area to steer the Kirkham Grammar School to a 14-12 victory over Brighton College in the final of the Army National Schools Super Tens hosted by Sedbergh School.

Brighton led 10-5 in the closing minutes when a missed touch led to a Kirkham counter attack from the halfway line for a try that levelled the scores and the conversion gave Kirkham the spoils.

Sedbergh lost their first match to Queen Elizabeth GS by a single point and left them needing to defeat eventual winners Kirkham, which they narrowly failed to do.

Manchester GS defeated King's School, Canterbury

26-17 in the final of the Plate competition.

Colts clash

KENDAL Colts meet West Park St Helens in the semi-finals of the Lancashire Colts Cup at Mint Bridge on Sunday. Admission is free and the match kicks-off at 2pm.

April 11, 2003 10:00