A GLOOMY afternoon, a monochrome match programme and a pitch squelching and oozing its black underlay hardly provided the prologue to a vivid and vibrant spectacle.

The result, however, was of vital importance to both sides. Kendal were eager to consolidate further their credentials in a new league. For Wharfedale, the game presented a chance to fuel their promotion challenge and lay to rest the embarrassment of being bundled back on frequent occasions when the sides met at The Avenue.

The visitors started with real vim and verve and Kendal scarcely had a touch in the first 10 minutes. Inevitably, talismanic figures John Lawn and Hedley Verity featured strongly in the opening onslaught, as did Tony Capstick, insatiable and effervescent in all aspects of play.

Despite the opening pressure, no real presence or secure platform was established from which a score could be constructed. The odd handling error or turnover allowed fly-half Casey Mee or full-back Mike Scott to harness the stiff breeze and relieve the danger.

Having come through Wharfedale's early bluster without much fluster, Kendal enjoyed territorial supremacy for much of the remainder of the half and after a break in the centre by Dan Stephens, a penalty ensued which Scott converted from close range after 15 minutes.

Neither set of backs looked particularly dangerous, the glutinous surface negating the menace of pace, a factor the visitors were to regret when their chances arose.

All the while there was the growing concern for Wharfedale that the home forwards were developing the ability to seek and find space to make more ground with the ball than the visitors had achieved at the outset. This was confirmed in particular by the forceful running of No 8 Adrian Bateson, both in broken play and from the base of the scrum.

Such ascendancy and good use of a strengthening wind allowed the home side to exert real pressure which demanded a healthy dollop of legendary defence and a determination to repulse waves of attacks.

The second-half began with both sides re-invigorated and a hint of a more expansive game, much aided by referee David Matthews, emerging. As at the start of the match, Wharfedale were controlling a lot of possession and on three occasions created opportunities from which tries could have been scored.

Each time, once through David Whitfield and twice through Andy Hodgson, the Kendal midfield was sliced open, but having discovered the luxury of open space on a day when toe-to-toe action was the norm, the visitors were undone by poor passing, suspect support play and flawed decision making which saw these fleeting chances evaporate.

A lot of the skirmishes took place in the Kendal third of the field, but the home side's discipline and ability to put in fierce tackles denied Wharfedale any easy pickings, including the chance of points from Adam Mounsey's boot.

For one spell, both sides fought themselves to a stale-make, neither conceding nor gaining more than a few yards - not attractive to watch, but epitomising the pride and commitment of both sides.

When Kendal did break out, a fine relieving tackle by Capstick and some rumbustuous runs by full-back Jonathan Davies carried the fight back. The latter also took a high ball with implacable and inscrutable aplomb when about to be enveloped by a black-and-amber horde. From one of his runs, wingman Chris Armitage was bundled into touch with a score beckoning.

Rather like an heroic tug-of-war contest, where neither side had had yielded for so long, it was Wharfedale who were to slither back and lose their footing towards the end of the game.

The influential Bateson was again finding space, often supported by the bombastic bursts of hooker Ian Gowing. From an infringement following one of these double acts, Mike Scott kicked his second penalty from the 22.

Once again, Kendal strained for a score and once again, Wharfedale refused to concede. The clock was running down and with only a score needed to rescue the game, some individual runs by Dalesmen aroused deep anxiety among the home supporters.

There is no doubt that this had been a hard tussle, short on excitement, but long on endeavour, a chivalrous slog between two teams who hold each other in mutual esteem. Home advantage and a surface admirably prepared by a pernicious Cumbrian meteorological mix had been just enough to deny the visitors their desired league point.