UNBEATEN in 15 straight league starts, Waterloo's arrival at Kendal on Saturday represents in theory at least the sternest examination Neil Rollings' side will have faced on their home patch this season.

Yet the prognosis is not entirely without hope after the Merseysiders had to grind out an 11-3 victory over Tynedale last weekend, a result which suggests that on their best form the Black and Ambers have the ability to make it a competitive affair.

Committed defence will be the key if Kendal are to do better than their 40-17 defeat at Blundellsands earlier in the season.

There is one change in the forwards and one to the backs from the starting line-up for last Saturday's 35-14 defeat at Dudley Kingswinford.

Jason Balmer returns on the right wing after missing one match through a neck and shoulder injury, while Andrew Hudson starts in the second row in a rotational switch with Dave Preston.

Team: S. Mullholland, J. Balmer, D. Bibby, M. Armstrong, L. Ladell, D. Stephens, M. Airey, B. Coxon, D. Green, R. Harryman, A. Hudson, M. Capstick, K. Robinson, M.

Bowman (capt), A. Bateson.

Bench: A. Martindale, J. Nicholson, D. Preston, P. Dodds.

The match, sponsored by Derek Hicks and Thew (Arch- itects and Surveyors), kicks-off at 2.30pm. The Seconds are away at Waterloo and the Thirds away at Workington.

Dudley Kingswinford 35 - 14 Kendal.

KENDAL'S winning sequence came to an abrupt end away at vastly-improved Dudley Kings-winford.

Dudley, who are making every effort to lift themselves out of the relegation zone, ran in five tries to Kendal's two to record a fully deserved victory.

Playing with the fierce downfield wind in the first half, Dudley scored the game's first try when Dan Stephens' kick out of his 22 was charged down and it was left to centre Mike Mackenzie to collect the loose ball and touch it down for an unconverted try.

Four minutes later winger Michael Swingwood was successful with a penalty attempt at goal when Kendal were penalised for not rolling away at a ruck.

Kendal then entered their best spell during the game with prop Billy Coxon, who unfortunately had to be substituted at half-time because of a dead leg, carrying the ball very strongly to gain good territory.

From one such carry, Stephens at stand-off was able to make a good break and from the scrum which followed Kendal were patient in their play, driving the ball closer to the Dudley tryline before the ball was moved wide to winger Luke Ladell, who raced in behind the posts to score. Stephens converted to reduce the deficit to a single point.

However, Kendal had to play the final 10 minutes of the half with 14 men when Stephens was yellow carded for persistently infringing at the ruck. Dudley took advantage by scoring a try in the 35th minute when a dinky chip through the Kendal defence was picked up by centre Warren Port and he ran on to score beneath the posts. Swingwood converted the try and added a second penalty in the fourth minute of injury time.

Dudley came out for the second half with all guns blazing at Kendal and despite having the advantage of the elements, Kendal were unable to contain the speedy Dudley back line.

Kendal earned a penalty and opted to put it into the corner for the lineout but made a costly error in kicking the ball dead and the scoring opportunity was lost.

The situation was not improved when Kendal had a pass intercepted in midfield and winger Ian Gowland ran it back for the first of his hat-trick of tries. Swingwood converted.

Four minutes later a large piece of fortune led to Dudley's fourth try. At a scrum in the Kendal 22 Dudley failed to control the ball properly and it shot out of the scrum and luckily rolled into the path of Gowland, who dived over for a score in the corner.

Kendal's only other score came in the 62nd minute when Stephens, realising the defence was lying very flat, chipped the 22 and just won the race to touch the ball down over the tryline. He converted his own try.

In the final minute of the game Dudley put Gowland away and he outpaced the defence to score.