The season started as the previous one had ended with a string of 6 loses, to extend the sequence to 11 losses in a row. The run was broken with a twelve try, 74v0 win against Manchester, followed a week later with a win against Rugby Lions (both went on to be relegated). An opportunity for a trio of wins was lost with errors which led to a one point defeat to also struggling Hull Ionians, (a result that ultimately was to prove vital in their own league survival).

The only other wins before the return away fixture in Manchester in mid-February, were at home to Morley and a Cumbria cup win against Kirkby Lonsdale (played on the Queen Katherine school pitch). However in this run only two games were lost by more than 7 points, away at Harrogate, and at home to runaway League Champions Fylde, who had Jason Robinson in their squad that season – although in that game he wisely was in the stand in his wellies, in a typical Kendal downpour).

There was particular disappointment against newly promoted Luctonians, as with Kendal trailing by just 4 points in injury time, and with the forwards rumbling to the line for the a potential match winning score, were penalised, with Liam Hayton Red carded.

Wins against Manchester and Rugby were predictable, but the home win against Leicester Lions, who the previous season had scored 100 points against Kendal, and were towards the top of the league, that followed was unexpected. A week later the team were thrashed away at Hull Ionians, who had benefited from heavy investment from the owner of Hull football club. They fielded a much changed team, to the one that had played earlier in the season. This was followed by a narrow one point win against Preston Grasshoppers, and a narrow loss in a re-arranged game against Caldy.

Then came the key game against away at one of their relegation rivals Morley. Mark Ireland passed a late fitness test, and his kicking proved key with 21 points. The team scored twice early on, only for Morley to hit back with three tries to take the lead, then strangely change tactics and instead of running the ball, started kicking for position which played into Kendal’s hands. Three long range late penalties gave Kendal a half time lead, and they ground out a comfortable second half victory, despite failing to add the try scoring bonus point.

A week later the team got a another away win (the last for two and a half years !), at Luctonians with Mark Ireland again in fine form with 19 points

A win against Harrogate, was followed by a double bonus point loss away at Leicester Lions, then another vital win against one of their relegation contenders Nuneaton, (in a game where Garry Holmes finished a excellent team try, in style), almost saw the team to safety. Despite them losing their final three league games, other results saw team finish 10th (of 16) only 3 points clear of relegation.

There was a big turnover of players at the start of the season with Gary Hodgson, Matt Charters, Ian McDowell, Allen Martindale, Matt Gracie, Rob Aloe and James Gough all having left, for varying reasons.

There was a new crop of young players, best highlighted against Aspatria in the cup at the end of season, with what must have been one of the youngest ever back divisions, with teenaged Mark Ireland, Dan Lowther, Leo Mercer, and Ben Robinson, making 20 year old Jamie Postlethwaite appear the old man. Young players joining the forwards included Matty Houghton, Joe Mallinson and Dan White.

The club had struggled to fill the scrum half gap left by James Gough who had left for Canada, and due to difficulties in getting a visa for their Romanian recruit Lucian Morosan until Christmas, Will Voke travelled back from Bath where he was in University. Mark Ireland was also commuting from Sheffield University. Another overseas recruit at Christmas was giant prop Iain Hudson, who made his debut, and an immediate impact, in a the cup game against Kirkby Lonsdale, scoring two tries.