Kells, preparing for life back in the National Conference Premier Division, have fitted in one warm-up game.
They took on a British Army side in what proved to be a tough, hard-fought contest which the Cumbrians won 16-10.
It was a perfect workout for both sides, but particularly the Army who are involved in the Challenge Cup a week on Saturday when they entertain Ashton Bears.
Kells have a bit later to wait to get back into National Conference League action but coach Peter Smith was happy with this workout.
“We have ex-servicemen in our club with some good contacts and we asked them if they would play us in a friendly to get them up to speed for the Challenge Cup game.
“It was a good, tough game and they had a number of really big guys so we had to work really hard.
“It’s only going to be one game before the League kicks-off but that one will have done us a lot of good,” said Smith.
There was no score in the game until the 36th minute when scrum-half Dominic Wear nipped over for the opening try which Grant Gainford converted.
But before the break the Army had levelled with a try from Kordibanuve which was converted by Nageleyuki.
Nine minutes into the second half the Army struck again with an unconverted try by Ogunwole but Kells came good in the last quarter with tries from Wear and Harley Nelson, the first being converted by Gainford.
