A THOUSAND mile round trip - the longest in league rugby - brought no return for Kendal, despite a continued improvement in performance.

Final score was Penzance & N 51 - Kendal 21.

The newest of the home side's cosmopolitan recruits, Chilean international stand-off Sebastian Berti, marked his debut with a 21-point haul.

Two early penalties put Penzance in front, but the visitors worked their way back into contention and fiery flanker Keith Robinson failed by inches to score after impressive approach work.

Kendal maintained territorial supremacy but struggled to contain the home side on the break.

A counter-attack by pacy winger Matt Jess led to a lineout in the corner. The Kendal forwards absorbed the drive, but the power of Samoan international centre Mark Fatialofa could not be stopped from short range and his try made a simple conversion for Berti.

Moments later Berti was in action again, converting scrum-half Gary Beaconsall's try to leave Kendal twenty points in arrears after as many minutes.

Further pressure was relieved as the Kendal pack produced an outstanding effort to take a five-metre scrum against the head.

The second half saw the best of the Kendal performance. An outstanding run out of defence by ever-improving wing Martin Armstrong led to a break by prop forward Ian

Thompson, who timed his pass to perfection and put centre Stephen Healey clear of the defence for a try which Mike Scott converted.

A Berti break split the defence to allow flanker

Alistair Durant to go over from a scrum, but Kendal swiftly replied as a second Armstrong break released winger Luke Ladell, who marked his National League debut with a try from 25 metres out. Scott added the simple conversion.

Powerful runs by Tongans Waqanivere (No.8), Ma'asi (hooker, although he played flanker against Kendal at Mint Bridge) and Saumi (replacement full back) kept the Kendal defence under pressure, creating space for Zimbabwean winger Victor Olonga to produce a hat-trick of tries in the space of 12

minutes.

Continuing enterprise saw Kendal finish in style as a sweeping attack saw Healey combine with Ladell, whose offload in the tackle put full back Dan Stephens in under the posts.

Scott's conversion concluded the scoring, leaving Kendal to reflect on a cruel imbalance of pace and power.

January 10, 2003 10:31