Match Sponsor R G Parkin & Partners. City Electrical
1 Paul McLaren-Dorrington Lancaster Lets.co.uk Match Ball Sponsor Friends of the Vale
2 Phil Berry R G Parkin & Partners
3 Ben Corless Fat Lads United
4 Lee Acton City Communications
5 Dan Rainford Lancaster Lets.co.uk
6 Andy Powers S J B Tiling
7 Fraser Spavin Allan Entwistle (Enty)
8 Gareth Tudor George Dickson
9 Oli Carter Barbara and Marlene Nisbet
10 Jack Turton Jilly Beads
11 James Curran
12 David Haigh Ron Higgin
13 Jonty Higgin Bay Travel
14 Rob Ward D Hall, Financial Planning Sevices
15 Nick Royle Grand Cru
16 Alex Cowey Barry Parsonage
17 Jo Clarkson
18 Danny Lin

The only time these two clubs last faced each other in league action was in April 1992 when Kendal defeated the Vale of Lune at home 12-6, a result that went someway to sealing the Vale's fate in the Courage Clubs Championship Division 4 North because their final game was at Bower Park, Aspatria which they lost, a result that confirmed the black reds as champions.

Over the intervening twenty one years the fortunes of both clubs have fluctuated so interest was high in both camps for this latest reincarnation of a fixture that used to generate such intensity both on and off the field. Those who had played in, or witnessed, those encounters at either Mint Bridge or Powder House Lane wondered if the fierce rivalry that historically was the undisputed DNA of those far off games would be repeated in the twenty first century.

Make no mistake, these games were played mostly in a tribal, feisty, pulsating no holds barred atmosphere in front of vocal, highly partisan crowds who liberally sprinkled advice from the touchline. It was no vicar's tea party, more a towering inferno of passion, with the rivalry at fever pitch, all that mattered was the result and its associated bragging rights.

Could the past be replicated two generations down the line? Would it be the Coliseum complete with gladiators, a bear pit or bullring, or perhaps the rough and tumble to be found in the playground or the January sales? Certainly there was a whiff of bygone days in a fierce encounter, but it would be naive to think it would ever be otherwise, in a fixture which ended with Kendal making the short journey back to base with maximum points and a second successive away victory something that had eluded them for a number of seasons.

The black and amber shirted Kendal side are not nicknamed the "hornets" for nothing and they stung the Vale repeatedly in the first half to establish a 25-0 lead. Only in the second forty did the Vale mange to find a suitable antidote but towards the end of the half it had begun started to wear off and one final Kendal swarm took allowed them to take over the hive again to leave the home side wondering why pots of Cumbrian honey are currently slipping through their grasp, it might be something to do with the input of the unsung workers.

Kendal's fourth victory of the season was crafted around their well organised, powerful and experienced pack which systematically ground the Vale into the ground. Vale did regain a measure of control in the second half by staging a dramatic fight back when they started to move the ball around to bring themselves within three points of Kendal's 32-29 lead with fifteen minute remaining. But just as Kendal appeared to be running on empty they found the reserve tank to post a converted try when the Vale were down to fourteen players and then they had enough adrenalin left to repulse some frantic Vale attacks as the home side tried to salvage something.

With no warning of the storm that was about to break around them the Vale began with a sweeping attack involving Jonty Higgin and Rob Ward but this was the last excursion by the home side into Kendal territory for most of the half.

Kendal's first concerted forward thrust ended with a penalty as the Vale scrambled, stand off Chris Park thumped the ball over from forty five metres in the sixth minute. Six minute later after the Kendal forwards had ploughed destructively through the Vale's ranks, Park kicked a second penalty.

There was no respite for the Vale's forwards, their backs held only a watching brief, and in the twentieth minute the Kendal pack set up a try for Park which he converted after a ferocious food processor moment close to Vale's goal line.

It appeared that Kendal had done their homework on the Vale or perhaps they had adapted the script after the opening exchanges because in the twenty fourth minute they snaffled the ball off a hypnotised Vale defence, centre Dan Lowther settled the issue with an unconverted try.

With Kendal making all the running the Vale looked hesitant and uncomfortable as the waves broke around them. The inspirational number eight, Robin Quarry was held up short in the build up to the final try of the half. The Vale were penalised, Kendal opted for a scrum, Vale went down in a heap and referee Turvey sprinted between the posts to award a penalty try which Park converted.

Both teams retreated to the changing rooms at half time, but it is doubtful that Kendal's "Magnificent Eight" would have found time, between sipping their isotonic drinks to peruse a document that has been circulating with the title "Why Rugby Has Backs?"

Obviously written by a forward it reminds the reader "that rugby started off purely as a contest for forwards in opposition in line outs, scrums, rucks and mauls. This pitted eight men of statuesque physique, supreme fitness and superior intelligence in packs against one another." The article concludes with a plea to "return to the glory days....... the rest can go off where they will be happier-playing soccer."

These observation are bound to resonate with many forwards who pride themselves as proficient practitioners of their art and Kendal certainly had some fully paid up members of the union in action. Of course threequarters worth their salt might disagree with this hypothesis.

Perhaps from the home side's perspective being taken away from the scene of desolation and the sight of an unforgiving scoreboard, helped the Vale to refocus because within two minutes of the restart they collected their first points.

Skipper David Haigh charged down the kick off, hacked the ball on, suddenly the Vale were going forward and as Kendal reformed Fraser Spavin chased the ball down for a try converted by Jack Turton.

Kendal had seen a portion of mint cake snatched from their grasp and they were not going to see the whole block purloined because they responded instantly with a bonus point try scored by lock Liam Hayton converted by Park in the forty fifth minute.

To their credit the Vale rebounded two minutes later with try after Nick Royle had raced through the Kendal cover before unselfishly passing to Rob Ward who touched down for an unconverted try. Vale's stock rose even higher when Jonty Higgin looped round after a passage of polished crossfield passing, Turton converted and for the first time in the game Kendal began to look vulnerable.

Turton added to their unease when he set off a well balanced sixty metre solo run that increased in tempo with every stride which ended in a try which he converted. Cue ecstasy on the East Terrace from the home supporters and a few furrowed brows from the large Kendal contingent.

With the Vale seeking to move the ball wide at every opportunity the gaps suddenly started appearing and with more fire in their bellies they narrowed the gap to three points when Turton efficiently kicked a sixty fifth minute penalty.

A Morecambe FC supporter, who had witnessed the dramatic comeback against Chesterfield at the Globe Arena, mused that he was in for a repeat episode but in the sixty eighth minute the dream was shattered. Kendal had harnessed their resources to move deep into Vale's half. A series of penalties which were angled into touch took them ever closer to the red zone, Lee Acton was shown a yellow card and from the next five metre line out Hayton was propelled over for a second try converted by Park.

In the closing ten minutes the Vale tried in vain to open up the Kendal defence but the visitors marshalled their forces, each and every player accepted the responsibility in securing a victory that took them into fourth place and dropped the Vale down to seventh in North One West.

Kendal will be boosted by their third win on the bounce ahead of their home game against Kirkby Lonsdale, while the Vale face at morale testing game a Wilmslow after the Cheshire side had become the first club to win at Wigton this term.