Birkenhead Park 48 Kendal 15 FORGET the scoreline, this was a battling Kendal performance to contain a rampant Park team, who showed just why they are North One West champions.

For a second season running, Kendal were overrun on their visit to Birkenhead, and while this was a much stronger Kendal team, Park had also stepped up, and without some defiant Kendal play, could have finished with double their score.

Park may have run in eight tries but for committed Kendal it was the ones they denied their hosts from scoring that would have pleased them most.

The champions scored their first try after three minutes and continued to play at pace, running the ball at every opportunity, and re-cycling the ball at speed – but the Kendal defence was more than a match for what was being thrown at them.

And when the opportunities arose, Kendal started to run the ball themselves.

The visitors first points of the day came via the boot of Chris Park.

Park struck straight back, with their forwards driving to the line for a second try and a third followed soon after to make it 15-3.

And on the stroke of half time, Park added a further try, as their pack drove over from a lineout close to the line.

After the break it became a battle between the Kendal defence and Park’s attack, as Park put the ball through numerous phases, only for the Kendal defence to prove equal to everything that was thrown at it.

Eventually Kendal broke out of defence and after Park conceded a number of penalties, Glenn Weightman broke through and got the ball away to Matty Houghton, on the wing to score to make it 22-8 The relief was however short lived. A long Kendal lineout throw missed all the jumpers, and Park were able to take possession and put the ball wide for a try on the opposite wing.

However, Kendal hit back through winger Adam Pashley's converted try from close range to make it 27-15.

Park hit back with two quick tries to make it 41-15 The champions had the final say with another try set up from a driven lineout.