A RASH of sloppy passes as Kendal attempted to play catch-up rugby blighted this disjointed performance and left them in the unsual position of finishing without a point to their name, writes Richard Daniels.

Final score was Kendal 0 - Wharfedale 21.

Yes, allowances have to be made while a new-look side finds its feet, but at this level any errors, let alone elemtentary ones, are bound to be punished and getting the basics right is sacrosanct.

Finding the positive aspects from this display was difficult but there were periods, particularly in the second half, when Kendal's forwards gained good yardage with sustained close-quartered driving play down the middle.

Yet there seemed to be an unquenchable compulsion to move the ball out to the threequarters only to see hard-earned possession frittered away with reckless handling mistakes.

Wharfedale by contrast were a well-drilled outfit who played neat, compact rugby and were probably surprised as anyone by their ability to find gaps in the defence with what seemed the slightest tactical variation.

Kendal hooker Ian Gowing remained sidelined with a persistent back trouble despite his midweek selection and Duncan Green once again took his place.

Dan Stephens was a late cry-off with illness so Steve Healey went to full back and Duncan Rose came off the replacements' bench into the centre.

Kendal ran a tighter ship at the set-pieces than last week, but slow ball back from the rucks and mauls gave them few options and they looked vulnerable in broken play when far too many first-time tackles went unmade.

Desperate defending was required after only three minutes when left wing Martin Armstrong scurried back to tackle Andrew Lovatt who had broken clear and was heading for the corner.

Kendal fly-half Mike Scott had an indifferent afternoon.

His problems began when he slipped and put a clearance kick into a huddle of players.

Wharfedale seized on the loose ball and Baggett put over a penalty for a harsh offside decision.

Wharfedale benefitted from indecisive Kendal tackling when full back Andrew Hodgson sped through a gap from 30 metres out for their opening try, which Baggett converted.

He then stretched the lead to 13-0 with a another penalty seven minutes later.

Wharfedale were mono-polising possession and their increasing confidence was shown when the livewire Hodgson came with a jinking blindside run from deep to wrong-foot the defence.

Nobody could lay a hand on him as his 40-metre dash set up No.

8 Sam Allen for Wharfedale's second try, although Baggett could not add the conversion.

Getting their hands on the ball at last, Kendal put together some good strong drives to get to the edge of visitors' 22 and earned a penalty.

Unfortunately Scott slipped again taking the 23-metre kick and skewed the ball wide.

One heartening aspect for Kendal was Jason Balmer's incisive running when he came inside off his right wing, but lack of support at the breakdown enabled Wharfe-dale to storm back upfield.

Kendal secured a greater share of the possession in the second half and had plenty of territorial advantage but never really threatened to score.

Instead Wharfedale broke away and won a penalty 20 metres out which Baggett kicked to extend their lead to 21-0.

Kendal continued to throw the ball about among the backs as if blindfolded rather than make the hard yardage count.

Newly-signed South African scrum-half Dumile Jijane made a solid debut and Kendal will be hoping he can show his full range of attacking options when he settles into the side.

Full back Steve Healey also made a couple of penetrating runs from deep while industrious Billy Coxon looked the pick of the forwards on a day when inspiration was desperately required but hard to come by.

With their big points cushion, Wharfedale were content to defend as Kendal could not open their account.

With four minutes left, the best chance yet came but Voortman's pass to Balmer went to ground when a simple run-in beckoned.

Wharfedale crossed the home tryline in stoppage time but were called back for a forward-pass and did not dispute the decision too much with victory in the bag.

n Kendal flanker Colin Wolstenholme has moved to become player-coach with Upper Eden after a distinquished career with the Mint Bridge club.