KENDAL centre Ian Voortman has been signed up by Wakefield Wildcats Rugby League Club to play for them during the summer after his eye-catching display against Preston Grasshoppers at Mint Bridge on Saturday.

Wildcats were known to be watching the two South African centres and Voortman, in particular, impressed with his pace, power and commitment.

Recruitment by the Yorkshire club - which could involve TV appearances - will not only boost income during the close-season for Voortman, who has a part-time job, but the club believes it could have a spin-off for them.

Kendal's Director of Rugby Chris Hayton said: "A change is as good as a rest provided players don't pick up any injuries.

"There's something to be said for looking at different technique and skills needed in League and they could be very useful to Ian's development.

"He's never played League before so obviously there's some learning about the game to be done, but he looked a very potent force on Saturday and is keen to give it a go after fulfilling his commitment to us."

Word about the talent to be mined in the Kendal backs is getting about for Sale RUFC were said to be also at the Preston match, looking at Malherbe, while ex-stand-off Casey Mee was named man of the match for Wakefield RUFC against Birmingham Solihull.

Hayton said: "It's easy to see why people are interested in looking at our shop-window.

That was the best centre play from Kendal I can remember and it was out of the top drawer.

"We got the game plan right by ensuring we got men committed before moving it wide and once we had got a two-score buffer before the confidence was there to go on and kill them off.

"Jason Balmer's final try which completed a 95-metre move had people out of their seats and cheering.

"They certainly had wanted to take us down with them if they could...there's too much respect between the clubs for anything else."

It's just as well that Kendal secured the victory required from their last three games to put them safe in National League Division 2 for next year as they field an depleted squad to travel to Waterloo tomorrow (Saturday).

Richard Morris is the third scrum-half in as many matches after Mark Airey popped a rib cartilage and Mike Capstick, Duncan Rose and Adrian Bateson from last Saturday's line-up are injured or unavailable.

Team: P.

Dodds, J.

Balmer, S.

Healey, I.

Voortman, C.

Malherbe, M.

Scott, R.

Morris, B.

Coxon, I Gowing, I.

Thompson, K.

Robinson, L.

Hayton, C.

Wolstenholme, M.

Burnett, M.

Bowman.

Replacements: N.

Pearson, R.

Quarry, D.

Stephens, A.

Myers.

The coach leaves Kendal Cricket club at 11.45am for a 3pm kick-off.