Kendal are still on course to finish third in North One West and the probability of playing at a higher level next season.
57-12 home win over bottom of the table Carlisle means it goes on to the final match with next-to-bottom Douglas when a four-point win would see Kendal finish with a one-point advantage over Firwood Waterloo in third.
Douglas have a game this Saturday so the following weekend looks as though it will stage the game – but possibly not at Mint Bridge.
Apparently, there’s a wedding at the Kendal club on May 7 so there’s a strong possibility that it will be switched to another ground – Windermere look favourites.
Carlisle started well and actually took the lead with a try by Euan Forlow which was converted by Max Connon.
The two sides went down to 14 when Kendal’s Steven Nelson and Carlisle captain Josh Holmes were shown yellow cards after 15 minutes.
Five minutes later Kendal’s Glen Weightman took over from a Jordan Johnston drive and scored after a mazy run to the line. Chris Park converted.
Soon after the sin-binned pair returned Nelson got on the scoresheet with his 22nd try of the season which was converted by Park.
Five minutes before half-time Ben Dixon put in a powerful run and Johnson was there to collect the pass and steam over. Park converted.
As in the first Carlisle scored the first try of the second half when they fashioned a three-on-one against full-back Park and Forlow went in for his second which went unconverted.
Kendal came back immediately and a flowing move involving Dan Lowther and Park ended with Dan Shorrock diving over for an unconverted try.
Kendal extended their lead after Dixon made a surging run and had Nelson with him to take the pass and score.
With five minutes of normal time to play Dixon made another break, and this time Greg Wrathall supported before sending Lowther sprinting clear to score with Weightman adding the conversion.
Three minutes late Kendal scored again as Dan Greenwood and Dan Reid did the spadework for Dixon to go over and Weightman converted.
In added time Shorrock and Weightman added further tries with the last one converted by Reece Tomlinson.
The late flurry of points meant the final score reflected harshly on Carlisle who handled the ball really well at times and dominated the line-outs.
But that was the end of the season for Carlisle, which hasn’t come a moment too soon. They should have played at Vale of Lune this Saturday but haven’t a front-rower left – and even the end-of-season booze-up has been cancelled.
