KENDAL RUFC were left frustrated as their fixture against Ilkley was postponed despite director of rugby Steve Whitehead describing the pitch as 'perfectly playable'.

The Yorkshire outfit arrived at Mint Bridge on Saturday with an injury-ravaged squad, and Whitehead suggested 'unsportsmanlike gamesmanship' may have have played a part.

League rules stipulate both captains must be in agreement that the pitch is in a safe condition to play, but with no agreement forthcoming, the match was called off.

"I didn't have a single player in my camp that didn't want to play," said Whitehead. "But both captains need to agree and that's just how it stands.

"Our lads were ready to play and we offered them another hour as the pitch was improving under the sun but it was just a tale of two camps – one dedicated to playing and the other looking to avoid it."

Kendal face Teeside outfit Billingham this weekend looking to build on their return to winning ways last time out against Doncaster, but Whitehead admitted both sides go into the match facing something of an unknown quantity.

He added: "We just have to approach it by looking to our strengths and executing what we do well and then reassessing after the first 20 minutes.

"But we are in a good place, we're training well and the lads are happy with the way things have gone and where they're going."