Looking ahead (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Looking ahead

8:57am Friday 21st December 2007 in Sport By Dennis Aris

VICTORY over Westoe completed Kendal's first league double of the season and took them into the Christmas break on an unprecedented run of 12 consecutive wins.

It has also given the side an impressive points-difference advantage over their nearest rivals, Huddersfield, who are the visitors to Mint Bridge on January 19 for what is shaping up to be the crunch match of the North Division One season.

Back in October Kendal beat the strong Yorkshire side 21-14 on their own turf, despite being reduced to 14 men for most of the game and trailing 14-13 with 20 minutes left.

The EDF National Cup match between the sides in November was equally tense and it was again not until the hour mark that Kendal took a 13-9 lead, then jangled the nerves of the home support by having to defend desperately to hold on against concerted pressure.

The third match between the two outstanding sides in the league is likely to be equally as riveting, but before that Kendal must travel to Hull on January 5.

Unpredictable Hull have won only four matches so far this season and have leaked 224 points, but when they visited Kendal on November 3 their speedy backs looked as dangerous as any in the division.

Deeper into the second half of the season another danger match will be the trip to Birkenhead Park on March 29. Park were beaten 16-0 at Kendal in the opening match of the season, but since then have won eight games and are third in the league.