KENDAL Warriors made the unenviable trip to face the all-conquering Newcastle Knights.

The Knights promptly slayed their challengers 132-47 to keep their unbeaten season in tact.

Kendal, who are sitting at the bottom of the table, had to contend with their vastly superior opponents without the injured Kevin Mason and with only seven fit players after an illness swept through the squad.

Despite the odds, Kendal started the brighter and took an early lead through Matt Basedow's three point shot.

The Warriors displayed an initial level of composure in their play but Newcastle responded instantly and wasted little time setting about their vulnerable opponents.

They proceeded to hit 14 points with a basket from Phil Mason being the only response from the visitors.

Six points from Gareth France and a further basket from Basedow showed the Warriors were not content to go down without a fight.

Unfortunately their bravery was quashed at the end of the first quarter when four three pointers in the final two minutes wrapped up the first 15 minutes with the score at 36-13.

The second quarter began in the same way the first had ended as the Knights continued to be aggressive near to the basket and deadly from range.

Nathan Williams and Keith McInnes, Kendal's only recognised post players, put on a valiant display in providing some resistance to the siege Newcastle were mounting on the Warriors defence.

This included taking a number of contested rebounds but the Knights would still continue to out score at a pace of nearly three points to every one of Kendal's.

Marc Crockford rolled back the years with a number of drives to the basket as he hit 9 points in the quarter.

Tom Withnell added to Crockford's efforts as he battled around the Newcastle basket, including filling in for Williams and McInnes when required producing what was a very selfless performance.

Despite these battling efforts the hosts led comfortably at the half way mark with the score at 66 - 26.

Things went from bad to worse for the Warriors as Newcastle's intensity did not abate.

The hosts hit 21 unanswered points in the quarter which put the game to bed as a contest.

France and Basedow doggedly tried to respond for Kendal with McInnes also adding points at the end of a good team move.

These moments proved to be an rare highlight in an otherwise brutal quarter as Newcastle took a 102- 35 lead into the final quarter.

Kendal were determined to end the game in a positive manner and for the first part of the quarter displayed some much improved defence as they forced their opponents into some uncharacteristic errors.

Crockford, France and Basedow found routes to the basket for Kendal as finally the Warriors were matching the scoring of the Knights.

However the game had taken its toll on the depleted Warriors squad and their efforts fizzled out in the final three minutes.

This allowed Newcastle to finish off the game with a further 14 unanswered points to win 132- 47.

Next weekend Kendal travel to third placed Tameside in what will undoubtedly be another tough match for the depleted Warriors.

Scorers

G France 16 M Crockford 13 M Basedow 12 T Withnell 2 P Mason 2 K McInnes 2 N Williams 0