Rugby continued their fine run of form with another impressive display against traditionally nuggety northern opponents.

The fierce wind blowing down the ground committed this to being a game of two halves and it was Kendal who had the benefit of the weather at their backs for the first half.

When the rain also started pouring down, the odds seemed heavily on Lions facing a significant deficit by half time.

But Lions’ defence again excelled although they were helped by some poor Kendal play and the home side found it hard to pass efficiently with the ball floating out of their reach and knock on’s a real feature of the game.

Kendal did have all the territory and most of the possession but although they seemed to have opportunities to outflank Rugby on the home side’s left flank, Rugby were always able to get a player across to cut off the danger, and that player was usually Tom Harris who was clearly stronger than his opposition wing counterpart.

Rugby did manage two isolated attacks and they threatened scores each time but it was Kendal captain Ian Voortman whose runs looked the most likely to break the deadlock.

In fact, the first points did not come until on the half hour Lions were penalised and Mark Ireland took his side ahead.

It was then a bonus when Lloyd Warner cancelled that kick out just 3 minutes later with a solid kick into the wind from 30 metres.

But Kendal secured a slender first-half lead when Ireland was given another penalty chance for Rugby not rolling away. It would nonetheless have been a satisfactory interval for Rugby having shown such resilience with the elements against them.

On 47 minutes, Lewis Barker scored for Rugby. From Andy Weaver’s lineout take, Mat Goode made headway and Barker did well to escape the Kendal cover for 6-8.

Lions were put under pressure but Kendal lacked penetration against fine Rugby defence.

Around the hour mark, the game turned.

Warner kicked two more penalties, the second seeing the threatening home no. 8 Craig Wilson sin binned.

Lions started to cut loose and Phil Reed’s combination of determination, kicking skills and pace brought him a converted try for 6-21 on 66 minutes.

Then Reed broke again 2 minutes later for Jeff Gregson to continue his try-scoring run.

Another 7 minutes and Tom Harris jinked his way through from a fluent move, Warner’s conversion making it 6-31.

Reed was again involved after Lions took the scrum option for a penalty as he sent Harris in again to complete the scoring in added time.

This was a third superb performance in a row from the entire Lions squad and one that sees them shoot up the table to 4^th position.

Rugby Lions: Warner, Gregson, Goode, Reed, Harris, Williams, Price, Warrilow, Weaver, Braband, Saunders, Nash, Walton. Reps: Spokes, Burchnall, Campton, Parker, Andrews