DESPITE the final scoreline, this was not easy ride for the Widnes side, who had the greater firepower out wide but found the Kendal pack a combative and abrasive unit.

A couple of well-taken Boardley penalties opened Kendal's account, but Widnes struck back with a score out wide.

Experienced Pearson caused problems in the loose and scrums, with Nelson creating havoc with barn-storming runs around the fringes, but the home backs seized a loose ball to score - unfortunately a pattern to be repeated.

A quickly-taken Kendal penalty found the alert Holmes in support to score, Boardley converting.

Then after a great passage of play, the Kendal scoring was completed when Nutter gracefully ghosted over for a popular score.