KENDAL captain Stu Parkin admits it was a bittersweet weekend after a return to winning ways was followed by defeat to neighbours Netherfield on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Shap Road club picked up their first win since early July in a narrow victory over Chorley but were heavily beaten by Field at Parkside Road.

And while delighted with Saturday’s outing, Parkin accepts his team underperformed against Netherfield and deserved to be on the wrong end of the result.

“It was a fair reflection and I don’t think we deserved anything out of it,” he said.

“It was a very poor performance batting and bowling. To be bowled out on that pitch, which was a very good cricket pitch, is disappointing.

"I said to the lads afterwards we aren’t playing for anything except league position and personal pride but I don’t think anyone of us walked off the field knowing we did our best.

“It’s a real shame we haven’t gone down fighting. We have all played for long enough to know what it all means so we should be taking a little bit more pride in pulling on that Kendal shirt and fighting for local honours.”

Netherfield posted a commanding 248-4 off their allotted overs with Ben Barrow’s unbeaten 104 responsible for the main damage. In reply Kendal were bowled out for 146 losing three wickets in the opening six overs.

“We let them get too many runs,” said Parkin. “I probably could have changed the bowling earlier on but to be fair Ben batted brilliantly and deserved his hundred.

“With the likes of John (Huck), Saliya (Saman) and Ben Phillips coming in with a really good platform you’re often in a better position to set higher totals. Early on they batted really well and sensibly enabling other lads to come in and play their strokes.

“Losing three wickets so early means there is a long way back if you are to get anything of the game. We lost Jamie (How) early and being a batting pro we do rely on his runs.

“That is not to say if he doesn’t score runs we don’t win games and we have proved that in the past but on a day like that when you are chasing 250 you do need one man to bat through.”

On Saturday Adam Cowperthwaite was the star bowler returning figures of 6-41 as Kendal ran out victors over Chorley.

“Adam will probably be the first one to admit he has struggled a bit this year but he has stuck at it, worked hard at his game and reaped the rewards,” he said.

“Taking early wickets like we did puts the pressure on. They had a little bit of a stand and there was a few little worried looks around but we stuck to our guns and gameplay and got there in the end.”

Kendal host Fleetwood on Saturday as they look to climb the table going into the final weeks of the season.