WEST HARTLEPOOL, 15 matches, 15 defeats - and Kendal have important reasons to maintain the trend when the teams meet in English League National Division 2 at Mint Bridge on Saturday (2.15pm kick-off).

Still to play Hartlepool twice, Kendal know it is vital to take the four points on offer from the bottom club to hold out any possibility of a promotion challenge going into the season's final stages next April.

Kendal coach Peter Kremer said:"Peter Kremer said:"From a psychologicial viewpoint it's a tricky game and it's vital we ensure we are right on the ball.

"We aim to do a throughly professional job and four points from the home and away games against them can put us back in contention.

"We must not make any silly mistakes and the players are not stupid and realise that we would have too slip up badly not to win, but it's often the case you're more prone to errors in these situations.

"We've got to be thoroughly focussed and play at a pace and intensity they can't handle.

"Forget about their previous results, we both start with a clean sheet on the day and it's important to impose ourselves straight from the start by building the foundations and then developing our play."

Frost gripped the whole country and claimed all but one of last weekend's National 2 fixtures, including Kendal's home match with Camberley, which was called off on Friday to save their opponents from travelling.

Meanwhile, Nottingham's 28-21 victory at Lydney in the only game played saw the winners move to within a point of Kendal, who still lie in sixth place in the table despite their 17-14 defeat at Fylde.

It's becoming congested at the top with the top four all winning their latest matches and three of them - Rugby, Harrogate and Rosslyn Park - joint top on 23 points, while Bracknell are a point behind on 22.

On the same day as Kendal lost at Fylde, Rugby Lions had a tough-looking fixture at Wharfedale but emerged with a 31-24 victory to stay top of the table.

Both Rosslyn Park and Harrogate had big wins against the bottom sides to improve their points difference, which may prove vital if the situation remains so close.

At the foot of the table, Preston Grasshoppers got an excellent 25-10 at Newbury to open a five-point gap pn second from bottom Camberley.

With West Hartlepool still pointless and looking doomed, the other bottom two spot looks to be between Lyndey and Camberley.