OPTIMISM remained high in the Kendal camp with the feeling they had done themselves justice against highly-vaunted Penzance and Newlyn last Saturday despite the bare facts of a 51-21 defeat.

Any chance of turning that well-being to advantage against Sedgley Park, who are due to visit Mint Bridge this Saturday, depends on the cold snap relenting.

At the start of the outward journey of the three-day

trip to Cornwall, Kendal's party had to force their way onto an over-crowded train packed with post-festive travellers heading back from Scotland.

It was standing-room only for many until the Midlands, but at least the squad were on the train. On the return journey, six members of the party including Director of Rugby Chris Hayton, missed it.

Adversity brought out their best and in a piece of quick-thinking, they hired a minibus at a communal cost of £120, and caught up with the train at Plymouth thanks to its initial meandering route.

The weather forecast has come under close scrutiny all week ahead of the Sedgley match. Heavy frost in the ground had failed to shift and although higher temperatures are expected, whether or not a thaw arrives in time is the big question.

Kendal secretary Roger Wilson said: "It is freezing hard overnight and if it does so on Thursday night, there won't be much chance of playing. Warmer weather is on the way, but it's a case of waiting and watching."

Sedgley Park forced their way back into the promotion argument with a 43-7 win over Harrogate last Saturday which lifted them to fifth place.

Kendal will be hoping to do much better than their away meeting with the Greater Manchester club after failing to score a point in a 29-0 loss

There is one change in the backs for Saturday's match from the Kendal team that started at Penzance and Newlyn. James Hadwin is named at scrum-half instead of Dumile Jijana, who takes a turn on the bench.

With Jason Balmer still out with a hamstring problem, Luke Ladell continues on the right wing.

In the forwards, Mark Bowman unavailable last week - returns at flanker, with Keith Robinson reverting to the second row and displacing Andrew Hudson, who is among the replacements.

Team: D. Stephens, L. Ladell, S. Healey, I. Voortman, M. Armstrong, M. Scott, J. Hadwin, B. Coxon, I. Gowing, I. Thompson, K. Robinson, D. Preston, C. Wolstenholme, M. Bowman. A. Bateson (capt).

Replacements: D. Bowles, A. Hudson, D. Bowman, D. Jijana.

The match, sponsored by the New Dungeon Ghyll, kicks off at 2.15pm.

January 10, 2003 10:31