Hull spent much of the first half facing a stiff breeze and a buoyant Kendal side who had much of the ball.
Hull’s excellent defence held the home side at bay and it was Hull who broke the deadlock with a well taken try by centre Steve Johnson who burst through a tackle and the dummied his way in from 35 yards out for a try, with off-half Simon Humberstone kicking the conversion.
Kendal replied immediately with a well worked try seeing winger Zane Butler go in just right of the posts with off-half James Blakeney Edwards converting.
Hull then started to gain the ascendancy at the scrummage and after the home sides hooker left the field injured Hull turned the screw and were awarded a penalty try after a scrum was illegally halted as it went over the line. Hull led 14-7 at halftime.
The second half saw the game dominated by good defences and although Hull were unlucky not to see Steve Hihetah score when halted illegally chances were few in the third quarter.
After 67 minutes, sub full-back Tomasi Tanumi went in under the post and Stephen Johnson converted and two minutes later kicked a penalty to see Hull pulling clear at 24-7.
The last 10 minutes saw Hull going close again but despite a late Kendal break Hull held firm to earn a hard-fought victory.
Richard Gore
