FOUR wins from four games - that's the challenge Hoppers face if they want to win the league after a disappointing 15-7defeat by Kendal.

A stirling first half performance against the wind had laid the foundation for victory, but the first 11 minutes of the second half turned the game in the Cumbrians' favour.

Hoppers started brightly with backs and forwards combining to take play in to the home 22.

The blustery conditions did not help the line-out throwers, with the home side gaining more than their fair share of possession.

A Kendal attack looked threatening before Gary Monaghan intercepted deep in Hoppers' 22.

The winger's long run had the crowd on their feet but the cover defence got across to haul him down just short of the line.

Hoppers continued to press with a couple of scrums close to the home line.

A moment of indiscipline on the half hour caused a penalty to Kendal to be reversed, but Martin Emmett's effort was wide.

Minutes later a line-out offence gave Casey Mee the chance to put his side in front with a low but accurate kick.

Hoppers hit back again, pounding the home line, and they got their reward just before the break.

A short range penalty gave Keiron Chadwick a chance to elude the defence and steal over and present Martin Emmett with a simple conversion.

The Cumbrians' opening to the second period proved decisive, with winger Dion Seath the first to threaten.

The pressure was relentless with Hoppers' defensive methods not to the referee's liking and resulting in the award of a penalty try which Mee converted.

Kendal soon returned to the attack with good work from their forwards, setting up second row Richard Harryman for a try in the corner.

The introduction of Ian Ashton brought more urgency to Hoppers' play with the back row close to claiming a try midway through the half.

John Bleasdale was the next to be denied but Hoppers' period of territorial dominance was fruitless.

As the game drew to a close Kendal were again in the ascendancy, with Hoppers' defence fully stretched in denying them a further score.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.