Kendal proved too strong for Carlisle in the opening game of the new North One West season at Warwick Road.
Four of the Carlisle Colts stepped up to senior rugby for the first time and it was a tough baptism but one from which they should benefit long term.
Kendal were 45-7 winners, fielding a side packed with experience and including only three new players – two of them returning to the fold at Mint Bridge after a break away.
Kendal, though, fielded just four players in the same position who played in their last game at West Hartlepool.
Kendal could not have had a much better start as they scored after only two minutes after Glen Weightman’s kick off was returned direct to touch.
From the attacking line-out Reece Tomlinson took the throw and the forwards set up a powerful drive to the line.
Carlisle defended well but the ball came out to Weightman and although his pass did not find its intended target centre Ben Dixon picked up to wrongfoot the Carlisle defence and go in for an unconverted try.
Carlisle then enjoyed a good ten minutes, forcing the visitors into a series of penalties but they could not take advantage.
When Kendal did break free again they made instant progress and when they ran a penalty Steven Nelson powered towards the line and held-off the tacklers to get over under the sticks for Weightman to convert.
There had been a number of flare-ups between the two packs, and after one unsavoury incident Carlisle had a player sent to the bin.
Kendal were unable to make their man advantage pay and they still led 12-0 at the break.
Carlisle started the second-half well but it back-fired on them after setting up an attacking position.
A loose pass was intercepted by Dixon who went almost the full length of field to score with Weightman converting.
A clever Weightman kick led to the bonus point try after the Carlisle defence in midfield failed to deal with it.
Although the first group of Kendal players on the scene misjudged the bounce of the ball, Danny Barker didn’t.
He took control and the ball was moved to full-back Kris Bratton in space on the left. He was able to weave his way through a static defence to score under the posts and Weightman converted.
After a quarter of an hour, a Carlisle second row was yellow carded for an off the ball incident.
From the uncontested scrum near the Carlisle line the hosts tried to run the ball and for the second time in the game Dixon perfectly anticipated a pass to pluck it out of the air and race away for another long-distance try to complete a hat-trick. Weightman’s conversion made it 33-0.
Despite the score-line Carlisle continued to attack, and with five minutes to play got a try. Good work on the line was stopped by Kendal, but eventually at the cost of a yellow card for Ross McKay.
Ed Harper finally squeezed over in the corner and Jason Israel landed a fine touchline conversion.
Kendal were not finished, and scored two more tries in injury time through Dan Lowther and Mark Carruthers, the first converted by Weightman.
