KENDAL director of rugby Steve Whitehead says his team will not get distracted as the race for the North One West title heats up.

The Mint Bridge club sit in third-place, seven points behind Kirkby Lonsdale and eight behind leaders Birkenhead Park - but do have a game in hand.

With just nine games left being someone is crowned champion, Whitehead insists the focus remains firmly on his side.

"When you start thinking about position too much you end up losing focus so we need to look after ourselves," he said. "If we start looking at potential games that are ahead of us then the likes of Warrington, Broughton Park and Wilmslow are quite capable of turning anyone over.

"We've got hard games ahead so need to take each in our stride. It's a dangerous path if you start looking ahead too far and end up getting bitten somewhere in between."

Kendal ran riot over Wigton this weekend in a convincing eleven try win.

"It was one of our easier games," said Whitehead. "There is always the potential to slip up. It was an away game, something of a local derby and they are desperate to stay up.

"We have got to take each game on its own merit and we have to prepare the same we do every week . We controlled the game very well and kept the tempo high. If you score early that helps massively. "The game was over before half-time but then it was about keeping concentration and sticking to the game plan right to the 80th minute which we did so I was really pleased with that.

"Everybody did very well. I don't think there was one person who came off the field not pleased with their individual performance."

Kendal entertain tenth-placed Carlisle at Mint Bridge on Saturday, and Whitehead is expecting a tough game.

"Carlisle are a different threat to Wigton, who were a bit light in contact areas. Carlisle are stern in that department, they are a physical pack so it will be a totally different plan this week."