IN THE wake of two successive heavy defeats Kendal have made major changes to the line-up for their final North Division One match against champions Caldy this weekend.
Kiwi twins Massey and Patrick Tuhakaraina are out, but their compatriot Nick McKain moves from flanker to form a hard-hitting centre pairing with Nick Michelini.
Mark Airey comes in at scrum-half, with Chris Park at fly-half. Regular scrum-half James Gough, returning from injury, and Andrew Boardley take to the wings as Ladell brothers John and Luke are still not fit.
"Caldy have a strong kicking game and we have to be able to counter-attack from deep, getting players behind the ball. Retaining possession will be the key," said Kendal Director of Rugby Chris Hayton.
"Success is the sum of small efforts repeated over and again. Simplicity and continuity of possession will frustrate the table-topping Caldy.
"The long trip across the Pennines to Hull proved to be a huge disappointment. Without the goal of promotion and sitting comfortably in the middle of the league, our players struggled to find motivation," he added.
"At times the team looked to be merely going through the motions.
"Tackle after tackle was missed and, apart from a brief spell in the second half, we had no control of the game.
"On a bright note the performance of young Mark Wilson in his debut game suggests that his future looks promising. Along with Luke Jacobs, also from the colts team, he is showing that a new young breed of Kendal players are being developed by ex-first team stalwarts in the local schools and in our own junior section.
"It is not unexpected that defeats like those of the last couple of weeks would mean changes. New players and different combinations are to be tried.
"This week we have gone for a robust middle of the field with a view to cutting down their options."
Team: Forwards: B. Coxon, D. Green, R. Harryman; L. Hayton, R. Quarry; G. Holmes, M. Wilson, S. Oliver.
Backs: M. Airey, C. Park; A. Boardley, N. McKain, N. Michelini, J. Gough; S. Mulholland (capt).
Bench: I. Ross, M. Capstick, N. Wooff.
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