KENDAL toiled hard in the first half of their North Division One game against New Brighton with little reward to show for it.
Time and time again the forwards set up a good platform only to see their hard work thwarted by solid New Brighton defending, aided at times by poor application in the Kendal backs.
Kendal earned their first points when New Brighton were penalised for being offside in front of their posts. Patrick Tuhakaraina stepped forward to kick the three points.
Six minutes later and against the run of play Kendal flanker Nick McKain secured turnover ball and charged out of defence. He found Simon Mulholland with a neat pass the full-back raced away on a 60-metre downfield gallop. His try was converted by Tuhakaraina.
Kendal's try brought to an end a five minute period of pressure by New Brighton and the next time the visitors threatened was nearly an hour later.
Yet Kendal could not add to their points tally in the remainder of the first half.
The second half, on the other hand, saw Kendal in fantastic try-scoring mode in front of the Mint Bridge faithful.
A powerful break by flanker Rob Quarry from the restart kick alluded to what was to come later, but it was strong Kendal scrummage and a lightning break by scrum-half James Gough from the back of the scrum that was the catalyst.
Mulholland was again on hand to take Gough's pass which had sucked in the defence and allowed Mulholland a clear run to the line.
When New Brighton had flanker Mo Fusitua sent to the sinbin moments later Kendal took full advantage - scoring three tries in the ten minutes he was off the field.
Winger John Ladell got his name on the scoresheet when he was recipient of quick hands along the line for him to score an unconverted try in the corner.
From the restart stand-off Chris Park was given quick ball by his forwards and he darted up the blindside to create space for centre Patrick Tuhakaraina.
He found Rob Quarry who deservedly scored beneath the posts.
This time the restart was driven upfield by No.8 Stuart Oliver and Mulholland got the touch down from a kick through to complete his hat-trick.
Replacement flanker Garry Holmes got in on the act when he burst through to set up an opportunity which Massey Tuhakaraina finished.
Patrick Tuhakaraina successfully kicked the three conversions to rack the Kendal tally up to 43 points With Kendal now full of confidence and playing an expansive game they undid themselves. A long pass in their own 22 was pulled up for being forward and from the scrum New Brighton winger Ali Child, running a good angle, scored beside the posts for a try converted by Gareth Simpson.
Kendal's try scoring was not finished, however, and they were justly awarded a penalty try six minutes from time when the home pack had the New Brighton forwards in all sorts of trouble at a five-metre scrum.
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