"It was a good day for rugby and a good day of rugby. Emerging from the floods and freezes of the Cumbrian winter, the weather was bright and the pitches in remarkably good condition.

We crossed Shap Road returning from the rather low-key display of the World Cup to await the onslaught from those newly inspired to espouse the game.

This was, of course, the reason for having it outside the club in the first place.

Surprisingly, there does not seem any immediate demand to build a new stand, or start a new team.

With the Webb Ellis trophy safely despatched up the M6, attentions turned to the 2nd XV game with Blaydon, imaginatively scheduled for 12.30 to link together the day's events.

It was good to see the 2nd XV return to winning ways, with a powerful performance against competent opponents.

It was especially pleasing to see the style in which they played, with the ball kept alive through the tackle and given width whenever the circumstances demanded it.

Just when all seemed well in the world of Kendal Rugby came the depressing news that, for the second consecutive week, the 3rd XV's opponents would fail to fulfil the fixture.

This time the culprits were Furness 2nds.

The disappointment was compounded by the fact that they had no 1st team game and that the World Cup had made an inspirational visit to Barrow-in-Furness shopping centre during the week.

It is difficult to keep a team going when the fixture list can be nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Outstanding Works of Fiction.

With record numbers of players involved at this level, it is important that there is a game each week as a prelude to the hours of modest festivities, which curiously demand a regular public rendition of little known Val Doonican favourites such as "Paddy McGinty's Goat".

The early spring sunshine looked delightful on the fells. Sadly, this is not always appreciated by the Mint Bridge crowd, but was in welcome contrast to a dark, cold day in Macclesfield for the previous encounter.

The weather was not the only thing to have changed. After a dismal game in Cheshire, this was an excellent occasion, with both teams having spells of dominance, in which both played some sparkling rugby.

The second quarter was our undoubted highlight, where we created a pace and intensity which the visitors struggled to match.

The two tries during this period, both finished by the ever-improving Andrew Hudson, were a triumph of team work and inventive handling, and illustrated the progress made during the season.

Unfortunately, some things have not changed. As at Macclesfield, we managed to concede a penalty in the dying minutes, which Gary Bell once again slotted with calm assurance.

Mercifully, on this occasion, it was only enough to secure a draw.