FOR the second week in a row, a battling Kendal performance saw them stay in contention against a promotion chasing side up to the final minutes only for a late try to seal their fate.

High flying Cleckheaton, who had lost one home North One East game this season, were being pushed all the way by the Mint Bridge men who were within a score of victory.

But the Yorkshiremen crossed again in the final seconds for a converted score which made it 26-15 and left Kendal returning home empty handed.

It was tough on the visitors, who had performed well and indeed had rocked the home side in the early stages when skipper Glen Weightman broke through and fed Rory Blakeney-Edwards who went over for the try.

Cleckheaton were soon level when their forwards drove over for a try and they went ahead on 20 minutes after a similar drive by the forwards.

But Weightman pulled three points back with a penalty after he had been taken out with a dangerous late tackle.

And five minutes before the break, they went ahead when after good work by Danny Barker, the forwards drove over the line for Greg Wrathall to touchdown.

Weightman put the conversion over into the crosswind from the touchline to give Kendal a narrow 15-12 lead.

Early in the second half Kendal lost Dini Noyo to an injury, and soon afterwards Cleckheaton regained the lead with a converted try after another forward drive.

Kendal’s backs still looked the more dangerous, but a mixture of handling errors and good defence saw them making little progress.

And in injury time their fate was sealed when after the visitors tried to run a penalty near their own line, the ball was turned over and with the defence out of place, the home side crossed again for a converted try.

It was disappointing that another solid performance was unrewarded and Kendal finish the year just a point outside the bottom three.

The Mint Bridge men now have a three week break before they return to action with a January 4 trip to Scarborough.