Fylde will have to pick themselves up following the disappointing Macclesfield defeat in time for the very tough challenge at Mint Bridge against Kendal (ko 14.00). The Cumbrians are in the misleading position of 9th in National Three (North) due significantly to a slew of postponed games on their own ground. Whilst they are 19 points behind 3rd placed Fylde they have no fewer than four games in hand.

This has been a curious stop start season for Kendal in their return to the national leagues. They have assembled a talented squad, including a couple of New Zealanders, yet because of the many postponements and a four point deduction for naming an unregistered player amongst the replacements in a game in October, they appear to be amongst the 'also rans'. A large crowd is expected to watch the best two supported clubs in the division in what is likely to be, as always, a fierce confrontation.

Fylde have a good recent record against the Cumbrians winning four and drawing three of their last seven matches. The exciting 24-all draw at the Woodlands on 1st November will be remembered for Fylde's remarkable come-back from being 9-24 down with just ten minutes remaining. Mike Waywell's injury-time try gave the Woodlands club a very fortunate share of the spoils. Following their relegation at the end of the 2005/6 season Kendal had two seasons in North One before having an outstanding 2007/8 campaign to finish as champions and gain promotion back to N3N.

The Mint Bridge Ground, home of Kendal since 1927, has been in the news in another context of late. The Club is considering its sale to a developer and moving to a new base on Oxenholme Road in the town. Members agreed to these proposals at a special general meeting at the end of last October.

Kendal's rejuvenation has been assisted by a major sponsorship from former player Jon Collins, now a director of Barwick Wines, an Australian wine producer. This finance assisted major team strengthening last season and to the recruitment of a number of New Zealand and South African players. The rules for the National Leagues are much tighter on the use of overseas players so the club has only two Kiwis in their squad this season.

Another overseas player, now with an English passport, skippers the Cumbrians. The highly experienced South African born centre Ian Voortman started his English rugby career with Kendal back in 1997, moved in 2003 to be a mainstay of the Sedgley Park backline in National One and rejoined his old club at the beginning of their promotion campaign last season. He is a very influential, tough competitor and a natural leader. He showed how dangerous a player he can be at the Woodlands in November.

Kendal's success has been built on a predictably gritty, hard pack of forwards, most of them with the Club for many years. A front row of Billy Coxon, Duncan Green (out of action of late with an injury) and Richard Harryman yield to few opponents and they are supported by able lock Gareth Gore and a backrow of Mark & Craig Wilson (formerly with Halifax & Plymouth) and Gary Holmes. One of the interesting sub-plots for Saturday sees flanker Holmes come up against his brother, Fylde's hooker Alan.

A key contest worth the admission money alone sees former Fylde flying winger Lewis Boyd coming up head to head against arch poacher Nick Royle, two of the quickest runners in the national leagues. Boyd, a Newcastle Falcons Development squad player last season, was brought to the Woodlands by previous coach Stuart Connell at the beginning of 2007/8 but couldn't break into the 1sts on a regular basis as wingers Royle and England Counties colleague Oliver Brennand were fit throughout the campaign. He's had a fine first season at Mint Bridge and is 2nd top try scorer in the division with 14, sandwiched between Brennand (17) and Royle (13). Brennand himself has fond memories of Mint Bridge as he scored a spectacular hat-trick of tries on his starting Fylde debut back in March 2005. 

But the Kendal backline will pose other threats through fly-half Dan Stephens, Voortman, Kiwi newcomers Zane Butler & Rob Aloe. Goal kicking is the responsibilty of Stephens who has 99 points so far this season compared with Fylde kicker Steve Nutt who has 171 points.

Kendal's provisional line-up is:

15. CHRIS PARK; 14. ZANE BUTLER, 13. ROB ALOE, 12. IAN VOORTMAN, 11. LEWIS BOYD; 10. DAN STEPHENS, 9. JAMES GOUGH; 1. BILLY COXON, 2. ALLEN MARTINDALE, 3. RICHARD HARRYMAN, 4. LIAM HAYTON, 5. GARETH GORE, 6. MARK WILSON, 7. GARRY HOLMES, 8. CRAIG WILSON.

Reps.: 16. IAN ROSS, 17. JOEL HOWSE, 18. REECE TOMLINSON, 19. LUKE JACOBS, 20. MATT GRACIE.

Fylde miss injury victims Sam Beaumont (groin) and Steve Nutt (ankle), and Grant Ferguson, away on school duties. Dan Bowman, amongst the replacements last Saturday following a knee injury, returns at no 8 against his old club.

15 Martin Wallwork, 14 Mike Waywell, 13 Richard Kenyon, 12 Tom Albinson, 11 Oliver Brennand, 10 Neil Hunter, 9 Craig Aikman, 1 Adam Lewis, 2 Alan Holmes, 3 Kieran Brookes, 4 Alistair Atkinson, 5 Roger Banks(c), 6 Dave Wilks or Dan Palmer, 7 Mark Stephenson, 8 Bowman.

Reps 16 Andrew Irving, 17 Mark Darlington, 18 Dan Palmer or Dave Wilks, 19 David Wiseman, 20 Mark Edwards.