KENDAL'S Director of Rugby Steve Whitehead has insisted that his team are genuine contenders for the title after an impressive victory over the previously unbeaten Warrington.

The Hornets were able to put a spanner in the Cheshire side's works by beating them 27-12 and lifting themselves to within three points of leaders Kirkby Lonsdale at the weekend.

It was a performance that Whitehead believed had been coming for a while and he said that people should never write off his side.

Whitehead said: "I don't think anyone will ever write Kendal off for this title as everyone has seen that this team are capable of extremely special things.

"We have been through frustrating times but we have come out the other side and I think that performance has been brewing for a while.

"We have only lost once and we've come straight out of it and beaten a very tough side in Warrington. I think there are four or five teams that could win this title, but we are no doubt one of them.

"We made good decisions this week which we hadn't done previously. I didn't change much because I know this team are capable of beating anyone in the league and I will always believe that."

This weekend Kendal will travel to Eccles who are well below the Cumbrian side in ninth place having lost six of the nine games played so far.

Their inconsistency on paper should come as a comfort to Kendal, but Whitehead admitted that no opponent is a safe opponent.

Whitehead added: "Eccles have not been particularly strong recently but we cannot afford to take these games for granted.

"They are at home and they will have an extra buzz about them because of that and I'm sensing that they will be good at set pieces.

"What we have to do is take that confidence away from them as quickly as possible. But we are always confident and I always expect my side to win. We've just got to make sure we play conservatively.

"We know that we have a good team. Saturday was a fantastic performance and I hope it continues."