KENDAL made the long journey across the M62 to East Riding to play second-placed Beverley and started very strongly posting the first points on the board in the 11th minute.

From a strong scrum in midfield flanker Nick McKain carried the ball to make good yardage, then from quick ruck ball scrumhalf James Gough fed Massey Tuhakaraina down the blind side, he beat two defenders with his straight running line and No.8 Stuart Oliver was on hand to plough over the try line to score an unconverted try.

Beverley took the lead ten minutes later after placing the Kendal try line under pressure. From a five-metre scrum the ball was moved to centre Tim Carney whose powerful run took him over the line. Scrumhalf Ian Archibald converted to give his side a two-point lead that they were to hold on to until five minutes into the second half.

Starting the second half as well as they had started the first the Kendal forwards drove Beverley back on to their own try line where prop Richard Harryman - who used all his experience and quality to lead his forwards by example throughout the game - deservedly crashed over to score Kendal's second try.

Sadly Kendal barely held onto their lead for two minutes.

A botched lineout, a problem Kendal had encountered throughout the game, was pinched by Beverley and standoff Anthony Posa released prop Karl Smith on a run to the line down the left touchline, aided by some poor Kendal tackling, for Beverley to regain a two point lead.

They extended their lead midway through the half when Carney scored a second after the ball was moved through hands at pace.

Carney completed his hat-trick four minutes into injury time when Beverley opened up the Kendal defence for Carney to score beneath the posts. Archibald converted with the final kick of the game.

n TOMORROW (Saturday) Kendal travel to face Hull. The only change to the team is that Rob Quarry is in the second-row as Liam Hayton is away on a skiing holiday.

The coach leaves Kendal Cricket Club at 9am and the squad is: Forwards: A. Quarry, A. Martindale, R. Harryman; R. Quarry, M. Capstick; S. Oliver, N. McKain, G. Holmes.

Backs: J. Gough, M. Tuhakaraina; A. Boardley, P. Tuhakaraina, N. Michelini, J. Ladell; S. Mulholland.

Bench: I. Ross, W. Wharton, C. Park.