KENDAL wrapped up the North One league title with a below par performance at Altrincham Kersal on Saturday and trailed for much of the game against a side fighting for survival at the other end of the table.

Both teams struggled in the opening part of the game with the conditions under foot atrocious due to the heavy rain Manchester had suffered over the previous couple of days.

Kendal threatened in the opening five minutes with No.8 Mark Wilson in particular taking the game to Altrincham. but after the first five minutes it was all Altrincham for the rest of the half. The home side put the first points on the board in the 19th minute when poor tackling allowed pacey winger Chris Stewart to run round the defence and score an unconverted try in the corner.

They increased their lead in the 32nd minute when Stewart kicked a penalty from in front of the posts after Ian Voortman had been penalised and sin-binned for a high tackle.

The score remained 8-0 to Altrincham at the break.

After a severe half-time team talk from coach Jon Nicholson Kendal started the second half with far more intensity and after being awarded a penalty, which Hoani Moore kicked into the corner, the visitors took full advantage by scoring an unconverted try from the lineout. Gareth Gore took a good catch and was driven over the try-line by his forwards.

Then, in the 54th minute, Altrincham hit back, scoring their second try. After a penalty lineout in the Kendal 22, the forwards drove the ball close to the tryline from where their centre crashed over for an unconverted try, awarded despite many believing he had grounded the ball short of the line.

The introduction of Kendal replacements Billy Coxon and Liam Hayton added impetus to the visitors' cause and, from a quick throw on halfway, the ball was moved to Coxon who charged through the Altrincham 22. From quick ruck ball scrum-half James Gough almost burrowed his way over the tryline to score.

Two minutes later Kendal took the lead.

Left wing Luke Ladell was released on a strong run and he passed inside to centre Brett Ashley who scored his first try in a first-team shirt.

Both tries went unconverted but Kendal had done enough and held on for a tight 15-13 victory.