Kendal lost their first game in the Papa John Community Shield when they lost 41-25 at home to Wirral.
Disappointingly for the RFU a number of clubs have withdrawn from all levels of the newly-introduced competition, including Stoke from Kendal’s group.
Wirral will now be favourites to go through as they play Ilkley at home while Kendal go to Ilkley in a fortnight.
One absentee for Kendal, among several, was Danny Barker who had announced his retirement.
Although under the cosh early it was Kendal who took the lead after seven minutes following a turn-over. Leo Mercer broke well and reached the line for Glen Weightman to convert.
Kendal were not helping their cause by conceding too many penalties and after 20 minutes the visitors drew level with a converted try from close in.
Three minutes later they went in front with a second converted try when the Kendal defence was undone by some smart passing.
Kendal suffered a blow when Weightman was injured and had to be stretchered off but from the subsequent penalty McKenzie Cousins added
But the next score went Wirrak’s way when a kick through confused the home defence and it was collected by the opposition to score and add the conversion.
Wirral were guilty of some wasteful finishing but did add a fourth try before the break when they led 26-10.
They added the cushion of a penalty soon after the re-start but that brought a good response from the hosts.
Alistair Thompson won line-out ball, and the pack drove on for Steve Nelson to make the touchdown.
Kendal reduced the gap even further ten minutes later when the forwards did well to establish an attacking position from where Robbie Collinson scored an unconverted try.
Wirral hit back and scored an unconverted try to take the lead out to 34-20.
Normal time was up when Wirral scored their final try and converted it but it was Kendal who had the last word when Joe Allday put Nelson in for his second try.
