Kendal 33

Warrington 19

REVENGE was sweet for Kendal after beating a Warrington side who has inflicted their heaviest defeat of the season back in November.

But despite picking up a bonus point victory to keep the pressure on the league leaders, Kendal made heavy weather of beating a team who looked a shadow of the one that had run them ragged back in their first encounter.

However at this stage of the season, it is all about the win and tries from Richard Harryman and Matty Houghton and two from Garry Holmes saw Kendal moved to within two points of rivals Kirkby Lonsdale in second place.

Kendal made the breakthrough after a quarter of an hour when, following a quick James Gough tap penalty, Bob Mataia powered on and when he was stopped short, the forwards drove over, with Harryman coming up with the ball. Chris Park added the conversion.

The second score came after half an hour when an under pressure Warrington scrum was disrupted and Gough caught his opposite number, with the ball going loose. Matty Houghton was the quickest to react to stretch over for the score. Park again added the conversion to make it 14-0.

Kendal's forward power came to the fore in the third try when the forwards gathered a lineout ball and drove to the linewith Holmes coming up with the ball.

Warrington got their first points of the game early in the second half when the ball was quickly moved to the right, where a gap had opened for an easy score.

But the reduced lead lasted under five minutes when following another unstoppable drive to the line it was Holmes again emerging with the ball, for his 21st try of the season. Chris Park added the conversion to make it 26-5.

Kendal had to withstand a long period of Warrington pressure and with 15 minutes to go, the visitors crossed for their second try of the game.

Warrington were reduced to 14 men when prop Mike Williams was sin binned and Kendal's pack, already dominant, took full advantage, winning a series of penalties in the scrum before finally awarded a penalty try. Park converted in front of the posts to make it 33-12.

With less than 10 minutes to play, Warrington scored again after a penalty was taken quickly, reducing the gap to just two scores.

But Kendal withstood some late pressure to earn maximum points but know they will have to play in the final three games of the season.