IT was mission accomplished for Kendal, who ran in six tries for a 40-20 victory over Rugby Lions at Mint Bridge in an expansive, entertaining display despite a lack of control at times.

Still it was hard to quibble at an important success as the Black and Ambers staved off an early threat from Rugby's pumped-up pack that threatened to punch serious holes in midfield.

Kendal lived dangerously but deflected the danger and came back with first-half tries from Ben Robinson and Peter Stevens, together with a Mark Ireland penalty, for a satisfactory 10-5 first-half lead.

After ten minutes of rearguard action, Kendal scored with virtually their first venture within sight of visitors' 22.

Quick ball from a scrum saw centre Ian Voortman's run trash his tackler and he released from the floor for Ben Robinson to dart through for his first try this season.

Ireland supplemented his successful conversion with a 20th-minute penalty to make it 10-0, but Rugby came back through their most dangerous player centre Kurt Johnson, who cut a neat angle to surge from 30 metres out.

Kendal worked hard to get their wide runners into play and right wing John Ladell was left in the clear and ready to scoot over until the referee pulled him back for a debatable forward-pass.

Still, Kendal managed a second try before half time, when a catch and drive from a penalty lineout enabled hard-working flanker Peter Stevens to force his way over at the second attempt.

Rugby showed they still wanted to spoil the party - Kendal chairman Dr Stephen Green's 60th was post-match - when Johnson almost burst through at the start of the second half but was just hauled down by the cover this time.

Kendal made the most of a stray pass inside Rugby's half when Liam Hayton picked up and they recycled well before Dan Lowther was given a run down the left wing and beat the last man to go over wide out.

Although unconverted, it stretched the lead to 20-5 and although Rugby's knee-jerked with a triple substitution, they gifted Kendal a try. Ian Voortman stepped in to intercept a woeful pass out on the visitors' own 22 and strolled over to dot the ball down by the posts, giving Ireland an easy kick for seven more points.

Rugby were never subdued for long and a well-worked try for danger-man Johnson trimmed the gap by five points.

Only two minutes later, Kendal cancelled out that effort when Lowther showed he had tenacity as well as pace by finishing off another chance on his wing, managing to touch down despite being smothered by three tacklers over the line.

Ireland slipped as he went to kick the conversion but a 32-10 lead was extended after 70 minutes when scrum-half Lucian Morosan went on a blindside snipe from a ruck following a penalty lineout and replacement right winger Chris Park was released to shoot over in the corner.

The scores at the extremities did not make Irleland's kicking duties easy and he another euded him, but annoyingly Rugby clawed back ground with two late tries - and would have been much closer if their kicker had enjoyed a better day.

An Ireland penalty gave Kendal the last word and sealed the 40-20 win with another set of Lions - the fourth-placed Leicester pride - next to visit in a week's time for a rearranged match.