7:04pm Monday 28th August 2006
By Dennis Aris
ONCE mighty Orrell were humbled by new-look Kendal in a warm-up match before the start of the rugby league programme in two week's time.
Tight forward work and impeccable handling from a sharp and fit looking Kendal side allowed them to run in five tries before half-time including hat-trick for left-winger Luke Ladell.
Such was Kendal's superiority that they were able to ring the changes with several second half changes, including resting Mike Capstick who put on a magnificent performance at the heart of the forwards.
Capstick's decision to return to the side after a year in semi-retirement could be a major factor for Kendal when they start their North League One programme, particularly as Billy Coxon has been temporarily ruled out with reoccurrence of an irregular heartbeat problem.
Orrell, hit by injuries the usual defection of key players which follows a double relegation, were but a shadow of the club once rated as one of the North's leading sides, but that did not detract from Kendal's sparkling show of virtually error free basic rugby.
Outside the scrum Chris Park was impressive at fly-half and New Zealander Patrick Tuhakarina looked a useful centre and scored his first try in Kendal colours.
On 55 minutes Andrew Boardley returned at scrum-half - his first match since an horrendous broken leg back in February and landed three good conversions as Kendal rounded off a comprehensive victory with four more well-working tries, including one from a superb solo run my captain Simon Mulholland in the last minute.
National League Three side Orrell may have been weak, but they only just lost to Chester in their previous warm-up, which should make for an interesting confrontation when Chester provide the first league opposition at Kendal's Mint Bridge ground on September 9.
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