KENDAL RUFC overcame a spirited Stockport side to win 36-0 on a bleak day at Mint Bridge.

Rock-bottom Stockport made life difficult for the Black and Ambers on a boggy pitch but the hosts found five tries to register back-to-back wins for the first time since October.

Stockport started well, playing a simple but effective game of keeping the ball tight among their forwards, with Kendal being unable to get any time with the ball.

The deadlock was broken after five minutes of play. From a scrum deep in his own half, Chris Downham picked up and ran at the defence, with the Stockport wing as the last line of defence, he dummied a pass to Damian Armstrong in support, but instead powered to the line himself for a brilliant solo try. Chris Park added the conversion to give Kendal an early 7-0 lead.

Stockport continued to play well, but ten minutes later Kendal doubled their lead. A Stockport throw failed to hit its target with James Gough being first to react, gathering and getting the ball away for Danny Barker to put Zane Butler in for the try. Chris Park again added the conversion.

Stockport had a couple of let offs as Kendal started to press home their advantage. First Glenn Weightman put a kick through for Butler to chase, who then hacked the ball on, but the referee was not convinced he touched the ball down before a Stockport defender and awarded a drop out.

Dini Noyo then had a rare opportunity to run, with a break from the Kendal half, but after making good ground, his pass to Butler was forward.

Kendal finally added a third try with five minutes of the half to play. A Stockport forward pass gave Kendal a scrum. As the ball went in, the backs switched play from left to the right, and from a Gough break, Barker passed to Armstrong for the try and Kendal led 21-0 at half time.

Kendal brought their three substitutes on at half time with Robbie Collinson, John Dervey and Kris Bratton, replacing Duncan Green, Hayton and Dini Noyo.

Stockport continued to play well, while Kendal were being hampered when they had the ball, with ball being lost in contact, penalties being conceded for failing to release, and kicks through gifting ball back to Stockport, who were proving much better at keeping hold of the ball to slow play down.

The bonus point try finally came after 25 minutes of the half. From a scrum in midfield, the ball was moved to the right wing where Armstrong made ground down the wing for a try in the corner. Park, hit the post as he slipped going for the difficult kick.

Finally after half an hour, Kendal started to move the ball wide, and were quickly rewarded with a further try. Kris Bratton, appearing for Kendal for the first time since 2011/12, broke through and when stopped the ball was moved on by Glenn Chesher, with Weightman finishing off the move to make it 31-0.

The defence was again breached with the final move of the game. From a lineout the ball was moved to Bratton who did very well on the sticky surface to power around his opposite number for the try.

Kendal saw out the final minutes to ensure bottom-club Stockport's season remains pointless for another week.