Balmer and Thompson help out

Kendal coach Neil Rollings said: "Our desperation because of injuries is no secret and these two have shown their immense loyalty to the club by responding in our hour of need."

Thompson struggled to return from a serious knee injury and left Kendal to join Upper Eden, but has not played for them this season.

Balmer was an ever-present on the wing for many seasons and like Thompson, was a key member of the squad which gained promotion to the National League.

He retired from National League rugby and played at Windermere briefly during last season.

It remains doubtful that Martin Armstrong will be fit enough to make the starting line-up.

Team: S. Mulholland, J. Balmer, M. Armstrong, R. Dobie, C. Park, A. Boardley, J. Thompson, B. Coxon, D. Green, R. Harryman, A. Hudson, D. Preston, G. Holmes, D. Bowman, A. Bateson.

Replacements: A. Martindale, L. Hayton, J. Gough, D. Bibby.

The match, which is sponsored by Domus Designs, Peter Marshall and Tony Nelson, kicks off at 3pm.

n Due to Cleckheaton's defeat of Harrogate in the Trophy, Kendal's home fixture with the former side has been rearranged from November 5 to February 4.

Fylde........ 68 Kendal....... 6 INJURY-ravaged Kendal were reduced to fielding second-row forward Andrew Hudson on the right wing, but gave a typically committed and spirited performance before being overwhelmed by a Fylde side that had the cutting edge to exploit their opponents' weakened side.

Fylde scored the first points in fourth minute when from penalty lineout in the Kendal 22 stand-off Mike Scott's neat chip over the top was gratefully received by full back Richard Kenyon, who spun the ball wide for winger David Wiseman to score an unconverted try in the corner.

Kendal's best chance of the game came moments later. Firstly, Hudson, revelling in his new role on the wing, ran the ball back at the Fylde defence and put in a neat chip of his own but did not quite win the chase to the ball.

Kendal then worked some good space in midfield for centre Ryan Dobie to gallop up the ground. Unfortunately his pass was not quite accurate enough for Hudson to cling on to as he lurked dangerously unmarked on the flank.

However, midway through the first half, Kendal stand-off Andrew Boardley exchanged penalties with Scott to cut the deficit to 8-3.

Fylde's second try came in the 29th minute when some sound Kendal defending seemed to have thwarted the home side only for Scott to chip over again for Kenyon, who somehow evaded the tackles to score behind the posts.

The Scott/Kenyon double act was in action again on the stroke of half time when Kenyon collected a side-footed chip through and touched down besides the posts.

Scott slotted both conversions and in between kicked a second penalty when obstructed chasing his own kick through.

Trailing 25-3 at the break, Kendal immediately pulled three points back when Boardley kicked a penalty as Fylde went offside in their own 22.

Unfortunately, Scott cancelled it out seven minutes later with his third penalty then nipped through a gap to score his side's fourth try, which he converted to extend the lead to 35-6.

Replacement Daniel Waller scored the fifth try with his first touch of the game, a move that started from a scrum on Fylde's own 22 which used the blindside to create a two-to-one overlap.

Winger Stuart Blackburn then scored a breakaway try as Fylde began to turn it on in the 65th minute.

Second-row Nick King got his name on the scoresheet with a seventh try before the replacement scrum-half sniped close to the line to score.Blackburn scored again to claim Fylde's ninth and final try.

Scott successfully converted the last four tries to finish with a personal tally of 28 points.

Kendal probably deserved better for their efforts, but unlike Fylde they could not turn pressure in the opposition 22 into points.

n The 2nds and 3rds did not play, while the U19s won 20-15 at Mint Bridge against Altrincham Kersal.