SIX HARD-earned tries and a 40-point winning tally, yet somehow Kendal emerged with their reputation diminished from their journey to West Hartlepool and, of more pressing concern, with several injury doubts hanging over the squad.

West's plunge from nouveau riche Premiership hopes into an unstoppable tailspin out of the league's upper atmosphere shows how fortunes can change dramatically when financial speculation consorts with sporting ambition.

But the reality on the ground was still stark to witness.

The North-East club are stripped of all the hubris and trappings that grease and oil the workings of a National League rugby club but, upon the surface at least, do not appear bitter.

Shored up in a sixth form college like a latter-day Alamo, West had placed artificial bocquets on the table-tops in a brave bid to brighten up fading surroundings, while end-of-match hospitality- including appropriately a fine stew - did not fall short.

As if to put them in their place for their efforts, however, they could not avoid the stereotype burglarly during the game which robbed the serving staff of their purses, a loss they bore with a resigned stoicism.

Through it all then, West carried off consecutive defeat number 17 with a fair bit of pride.

If they are sensible, Kendal could learn from the experience.

Being able to live with unfufilled expectancy is something they did not cope with very well at all during the match and a bit more decorum all round would not have gone amiss.

Instead they went out with a mental picture of how things would happen and when it failed to fit the fantasy, they shed their composure in an undignified scramble for a half-decent victory that would improve the points-difference column.

As early as two minutes, Kendal went behind when West swallowed up Stephens under a high ball and then rippled across the the backs from the scrum with winger Clark finishing off an unconverted try in the left corner.

Kendal's set-piece superiority got them out of trouble near their own line, but they lacked authority in the loose, failing to commit enough men to the rucks and suffering unacceptable turnover ball.

Playing in snatches, Harryman finally ignited the charge, with support from Coxon and Wolstenholme, to force West into conceding the penalty and Scott put the points on the board.

Another penalty for the same offence followed after 14 minutes to take Kendal 6-5 ahead, but two minutes later Stabler returned it in kind from 35 metres.

Stand-off Mee fizzed about and clearly fancied his chances at slipping his chains, but the support play left a lot to be desired.

Kendal's first try came in the 23rd minute when Balmer came off his wing to provide the impetus and Jimmy Thompson picked up and sniped his way over.

Scott scuffed his conversion attempt badly.

Instead Stabler kicked a second penalty three minutes later to level the scores at 11-11 and it took a Gowing's crucial striker against the head in the scrum to relieve some worrying danger soon afterwards.

Signs of the pysical edge that was creeping in came when the referee spoke to both Stephens and Capstick, the latter spotted throwing punches at a scrum, but did not resort to his cards.

Kendal earned breathing-space in injury time when a bludgeoning run by Harryman took them into the 22 and when Mee fumbled a pass, Wolstenholme picked up and rampaged over from 15 metres to touch down near the posts, Scott converting to give them an 18-11 half-time lead.

Within eight minutes of the restart Bowman had carved out a brace of tries for himself, a straight-foward effort from a catch and drive, while the second only came after West gifted the ball back after Dodds left-wing flight to a certain try had been curtailed when Robinson was penalised for clumsily crossing.

Mee's break pu the left follwoee by Dodds chip and chase led to the forwards driving Gowing over from a penalty for the third try.

Healey was then left with a simple stroll-in after the best move of the match but inexplicably spilled the ball and the comedy of errors continued as Mee's unselfish decision to try and put young replacement Myers in at the corner backfired as the ball was run into touch.

Healey made amends for his earlier Gaffe by picking up a pass off his bootend and wriggling his way through for a fourth try, but with Ian Thompson replacing the injured Gowing, Kendal were left with a man down when Jimmy Thompson was carried off with a neck injury after a length stoppage.

West lost lock Davies to a yellow card for head-butting Coxon and to be honest it was a relief to all concerned when the referee finally blew for full time.