Kendal eased to a dominant 46-8 win against Cleckheaton at Mint Bridge this weekend.

Just the two changes from the squad at Blaydon, with Alfie Bradshaw and Robbie Kincart returning, in place of Johnny Swallow and Dini Noyo.

Glenn Chesher and Ben O'Halloran started from the bench with Ben Leacock.

Kendal maintained control in the second half, moving the ball quickly to stretch the opposition (Image: Adrian Nutters)

It stayed dry, but the forecast sunny spells never materialised, with mist covering the surrounding hills.

It seemed a smaller crowd than usual, but those who stayed away missed an improved performance.

Kendal started well, and after seeing Cleckheaton steal ball, the Kendal pack stole it back and Cleckheaton conceded a penalty, which Evan Moir put over.

3v0 after just three minutes.

Kendal extended their lead, breaking through the Cleckheaton defence to score again (Image: Adrian Nutters)

It took just five minutes to extend the lead with the first try.

Ben Dixon and Aaron Stephens made breaks, and then Andy Rogers went for the line. Whilst stopped, he did well to somehow get the ball away and Robbie Kincart was rewarded for being in support to go over for the try from short range. Evan Moir added the conversion 10v0.

The second try quickly followed.

An Evan Moir kicked was changed down, but Ollie Rose gathered and put a long pass to Ben Dixon.

Kendal sealed a convincing 46-8 victory (Image: Adrian Nutters)

He kicked ahead and followed his own kick to gather the ball on the bounce to go over for the try 15v0

At this point it looked as if it would be a relatively easy afternoon for Kendal, but instead Cleckheaton came back and kept Kendal under pressure for a long period.

Cleckheaton opened their scoring after twenty minutes with a penalty by outside half and captain Dale Breakwell, following a Kendal high tackle, something the referee penalised both teams for regularly during the game. 15v3

A clever Breakwell crossfield kick when the referee was playing penalty advantage, was taken for a try, and narrowed the gap to 15v8

Kendal came back and when awarded a penalty, having earlier missed a long range one, Evan Moir was given the change to extend the Kendal lead 18v8

The next Kendal try came from a lineout on the left.

Scrum power from Kendal, with the home side applying pressure in the first half (Image: Adrian Nutters)

The ball was won (after recent problems the lineout was excellent for most of the game), and the pack drove for the line, when the ball came out Aaron Stephens went for the line, but was stopped short.

When the ball came back from the ruck, Andy Rogers timed his run perfectly and was on the move to take the ball at pace to score. Evan Moir added the conversion 25v8.

Excellent Kendal good handling should have been rewarded with a try, but a final pass went down near the line.

In added time Cleckheaton were temporarily down to fourteen.

Kendal were awarded a penalty on the line. Ollie Rose took it quickly but was immediately stopped, leading to second row Josh Plunkett getting a yellow card.

No penalty try, so Kendal took a scrum. When awarded a second penalty, Kendal again went for a scrum, but lack of communication saw a knock on to end the half.

Kendal made three changes at halftime with Glenn Chesher; Ben Leacock; and Ben O'Halloran coming on in place of Joe Anderson; Andy Rogers and Leo Mercer.

Kendal extended their lead eight minutes into the second half.

In a move started in the Cleckheaton half Ben Dixon made a break, Aaron Stephens was in support for the pass, then released Dan Shorrock.

There were several Kendal players in pursuit, but it was Ollie Rose who gathered the ball to score the bonus point fourth try.

Evan Moir added the conversion from close to the touchline. 32v8.

A number of Cleckheaton players were clearly struggling, and Kendal got the tactics right taking lineouts quickly and keeping the ball moving around the pitch.

It was a busy day for Kendal's physio, as the Cleckheaton physio's vehicle had reportedly suffered a breakdown on the way to the game, so they were having to cover both teams.

After twenty-five minutes Kendal made a double change with Leo Mercer and Andy Rogers, returned for Dan Shorrock and Oscar Coxon.

Cleckheaton were offering little in attack, but were defending well, and outside half Dale Brakewell was making a lot of ground with his clearance and penalty kicks.

Finally after twenty five minutes a further Kendal score came.

The pack won lineout ball on the left and drove for the line.

The ball was then moved right, Aaron Stephens went for the line but was stopped short, but got a pass away to Evan Moir, who went over unopposed in the corner, then added the difficult conversion. 39v8.

After a twenty minute wait for a try, the next came almost immediately.

Brakeswell switched the restart kicking away from his forwards, but this totally backfired as Alfie Bradshaw plucked the ball out of the air, beat the advancing Cleckheaton players and headed for the line.

He had Ben O'Halloran in support, but chose to keep going, only to be caught.

The ball was then moved wide across the field to the left, and Patrick Wolstenholme took a difficult pass and made ground, but was also stopped.

However when the ball came back Barney Coxon appeared to be stopped but got away to theatrically dive over for the try.

Evan Moir added the conversion to take his own tally to twenty-one and the score to 46v8.

This was the final score, although there was another good run from Ben Dixon, who had regularly breached the Cleckheaton defence, but he was caught, and injured, to be replaced by Dan Shorrock

Barney Coxon, another who had had a good game, was also forced off, with brother Oscar returning

Cleckheaton finished with their best play of the half, but could not add to their score.

So an important five points for Kendal.

With the exception of outside half Dale Brakewell, Cleckheaton looked a team in trouble, defeated by a Kendal team which has played a lot better this season and lost.

Next week a much tougher challenge, with a visit to Harrogate, before a return to Mint Bridge on the 6th December for another important game with Driffield the visitors