THE heartening sight of South African centre Ian Voortman rocketing away into space was the enduring image from Kendal's pre-season match with National Division One side Otley on Saturday.

All eyes were on key man Voortman, who was making his competitive comeback after suffering a badly-broken leg last season.

He showed he had lost none of his boundless enthusiasm and, more importantly, that potential match-winning blistering acceleration.

While Otley drew first blood with an interception try, Kendal's riposte was a classic of its kind.

Fly-half Mike Scott's long miss-pass released Voortman on a lightning 40-metre angled run and excellent support and inter-passing saw Adrian Bateson drive towards close to the tryline.

Confidently directing operations, Scott slipped a neat inside pass to Jason Balmer, who came in off his wing to crash past three men for the touchdown.

Intense fitness work by the whole team during the summer break at Mint Bridge appears to have done its job well.

Kendal produced an inventive and expansive display in the opening half-hour that left the Yorkshire side looking sluggish and prone to error under pressure.

Kiwi Casey Mee faces an interesting personal challenge altering mindset from stand-off to scrum-half but showed a selfless understanding with Scott, whose classy pass distribution prompted most of the side's best work.

Wingman Jason Balmer was dangerous whenever and wherever he had the ball.

And on the opposite flank Matthew Woodcock, the Workington Rugby League defector, made an assured debut and also got on the scoresheet.

Technically, there is clearly work to be done in the set-pieces and coach Peter Kremer said afterwards the focus leading up to the first league match at Fylde on September 2 would be on improving skills at set-pieces and on bonding the forwards together, particularly as a concerted defensive unit to repel the bulkiest of opposition.

"It was pleasing to be competitive with a side from a level above us, but there is still work to be done," said Kremer.

Sidelined skipper Ian Thompson is expected back for the opening game, but fellow prop Billy Coxon will now miss the season's start after a training setback.

There were positive aspects and slimmed-down Richard Harryman caught the eye with several effective runs, while utility-man Keith Robinson accepted a massive responsibility in the loose and proved a pivotal figure.

It was interesting that he outshone Nathan Bland, now at Otley, in the close-quarter exchanges.

True, by the end of the afternoon Otley, who had a much bigger squad at their disposal, had racked up seven tries to four for a 45-28 advantage.

Inspired by ex-Rotherham fly-half Simon Binns, their numerically bigger squad swamped the home side with fresh legs in the last of three 30-minute sessions.

The afternoon finished as it had started with an exhilarating sprint up the wing as Voortman, Paul Spiby and Balmer linked before the final pass was fumbled.

Curiously, nobody bothered to put the score up on the board - the paying spectators surely deserved to be kept informed.

n Junior training (12-18-year-olds) starts at Mint Bridge this Sunday (10.30am), and all are welcome.