Penrith 13 - 20 Kendal

TWO second-half penalty tries ensured Kendal's perfect start to the North One West season continued in a hard-fought win away at local rivals Penrith.

With Tom Voke failing a late fitness test, James Thompson retained his place in the side that beat Bolton last weekend as Kendal fielded an unchanged starting fifteen to win at Winters Park - despite picking up a string of injuries.

Kendal were first off the mark with a well struck drop goal by Nathan Wooff after five minutes but ten minutes later Kendal were reduced to fourteen when centre Bob Mataia was adjudged to have made an illegal tackle and was given a yellow card.

Penrith centre Pale Tuilagi slotted over the resulting penalty to tie the scores at 3-3.

There was another blow for Kendal when influential captain James Gough was forced to limp off before Leo Mercer joined Gough on the treatment table ten minutes later.

The wind was also causing problems for the Kendal kickers with two attempts at goal drifting wide, and a penalty kick to touch, instead being put dead.

As the half came to an end, the wind proved no more helpful to the home team with Tuilagi missing two penalties to leave the scores tied at half time.

At the start of the second half, Kendal were forced to bring on their final substitute, with Billy Coxon replacing Mataia.

Glen Wightman's drop goal gave Kendal the opening score in the second-half but Penrith took the lead for the first time when Tuilagi crashed over the line two minutes after.

James Hogg and Crouch combined to take play deep into Kendal's 22. Tuilagi came into scrum half at the ruck, had time to look around and assess the situation and picked his way to the try line close to the breakdown. His conversion put the home side ahead at 10-6.

There was worse news for Kendal as Dini Nayo was the fourth player forced off with an injury sustained in the build up. Rather than go down to fourteen men, Gough returned, limping badly.

The turning point of the game came after 63 minutes.

When a Penrith player was receiving attention after repelling another drive to the line, Chris Downham was recalled from his duties on the wing and with the full eight back in place, Penrith offended once too often, and the referee awarded a penalty try which Wightman duly converted.

The Kendal pack now had a full head of steam and from a scrum on the line it looked as if Penrith had found an answer - but the referee decided illegally and headed behind the posts for a second time. Glen Wightman converted.

Tuilagi added a 73rd penalty but Kendal held on to record their fourth straight win of the season.