PRIDE was restored and confirmation came that Kendal can mix it with the best in National League 2 with a rip-roaring display against the leaders Henley Hawks at Mint Bridge on Saturday, writes Richard Daniels.

Final score Kendal 9 - Henley Hawks 16.

There was no victory to celebrate but a storming second-half effort, in which Kendal scored the only points, put the Londoners just a converted try away from having to share the spoils.

Magnificent full-contact tackling lay at the hub of the Black and Ambers' perform-ance as at least four certain try-saving stops were conjured up to prevent Henley from gaining vital momentum to run away with the match.

It should prove one of the defining moments of the season and you felt that, with the large, vocal crowd behind them, this new-look Kendal side had come of age and showed the necessary self-belief to work their way up

the league table.

Once again late injuries meant team changes with hooker Ian Gowing failing to pass a fitness-test on his injured calf and flanker Shaun Renwick sitting in the stand with tonsillitis.

It brought old warhorse Jon Nicholson into the front row while lock Keith Robinson switched to flanker with Dave Preston starting in the second row.

The action began at break-neck speed and Henley's slick recycling skills to supply a lightning-fast set of three-quarters made it imperative that Kendal were alert and totally committed.

First blood went to Henley when stand-off Barry Reeves slotted over a fourth-minute penalty for a ruck offence after winger Ali James had run back from Kendal's failed kick to touch.

From the the restart kick, Kendal rattled their visitors when Preston secure the ball after a Henley knock-on, setting up Adrian Bateson and Dan Bowman to make good drives towards the 22.

When Henley slowed up the ruck ball, Kendal stand-off Mike Scott found himself with limited options and made space to land a superb drop-goal to level the scores.

Henley boasted some explosive runners and a half-back pairing that had reputedly played for England 18s when Jonny Wilkinson was in the side Kendal were not overawed, though at times it meant some desperate last-gasp tackling and Martin Armstrong recovered ground well to prevent the opposing centre rocketing over.

Kendal maintained an formidable defensive line across the pitch, but when Henley escaped being penalised for crossing, they attacked deep into the 22 and Reeves put over a penalty for collapsing the scrum after 19 minutes to give them a 6-3 lead.

Kendal had a swift chance to capitalise when Henley kicked the restart ball straight out but they lost the lineout on their own throw.

However, Kendal's defensive resolve remained undimin-ished and they withstood a tremendous maul on their own try line and then turned over the ball.

It was nine minutes before half time when Henley finally crossed the tryline.

From a quickly-taken tap penalty, Henley sent away their South African centre Rik Van Zyl and he wrong-footed the defence to race over and Reeves converted and added a penalty just before the break to extend the lead to 16-3 at half-time.

It might have been more

by Kendal scrum-half Dumile Jijana, showed great deter-mination throughout after hearing about his father's death only 24 hours earlier, put in a great ankle tap to stop a certain try just before the break.

Showing character and focus to force themselves back into contention, Kendal declared their intent when Scott landed another drop-goal after good pressure.

Brilliant defending on their own tryline by Kendal was dispiriting for the visitors.

Soaking up several battering runs, Kendal took one against the head at a five-metre scrum and forced a penalty to clear the danger.

Retaining the ball well, Kendal earned a precious penalty but Scott was wide with his kick.

Still there was plenty to admire as Kendal then produced a textbook display of mauling to threaten the Henley tryline and at last earned the reward when Scott put over a penalty to set up a fascinating final 10 minutes.

Kendal, plugging on, made one last desperate thrust when right wing Jason Balmer, who perhaps should have seen more of the ball, shot away on a 40-metre dash up the right wing to bring the crowd to its feet.

It took an exceptional cover tackle by Henley's last man to stop him from the try which, with the conversion, would have brought a draw.