Kendal Town fielded 5 Westmorland capped players in their team, doubtless keen to overturn the result from their home fixture earlier in the season.

A bit of research however tells a different story of the game

31st January 1891 at West Hartlepool
Report from Westmorland Gazette

It will be remembered that the Rovers opening fixture last September was with Kendal, when the former were beaten by a goal and three tries to one try.

The Rovers being dissatisfied with their defeat, determined upon a reversion of it, with interest if possible, and it must be said that throughout the season everything has favourably tended toward the desired end.

Kendal only sent a poor team being without nine players who gained the previous victory over the Rovers.

A few minutes after two o’clock Yiend kicked off from the battery end against the breeze, and his men immediately pressed, Alderton showing up prominently with a nice run, the upshot being the visitors were compelled to save by conceding a minor.

Play settled near the home quarter flag following the drop out, but the Rovers recovering themselves pressed their opponents back to the centre, where Emmerson and Alderton put in some useful work.

Kassell obtaining possession scampered, off but the effect of his customary supplemental short kick was marred by a sudden gust of wind which blew the ball behind him. The same player, through no fault of his own, immediately missed a pass by Smith with the result that the Kendal forwards rushed the leather right down to Horn, who saved smartly, and amid applause returned almost as far as the centre line.

Kendal got away again however, and Horn ultimately touched down. Coleman the visiting centre three quarter, after the drop out made his mark, as also did Alderson, but neither was attended with much advantage.

The Rovers looked like becoming a pray to invaders when, Hill, Alderson, Kassell and Pease carried play to the other end and the Kendal citadel became besieged. A free kick for offside play on the visitors part at this point fell to the Rovers, and Alderson made a splendid shot at goal from a place, but a minor was the only result.

Kendal spurted and Horn saved near the quarter flag, where play settled for a short time, the Roves finally working the leather into visitors territory. Alderson here missing a pass the Kendal forwards, who were a particularly smart lot, got on the ball and finished upo adding another minor.

Play continued in the home half until Fawcett, for Kendal, got over the line and Nicholson converting the point. Simultaneously with the leather falling dead, half time was called with the score Kendal 1-0-2, Rovers 0-0-3.

With the change of ends the Rovers had the aid of the wind which continued to blow freshly and in view of this together with Kendal’s comparatively small score, not much doubt existed as to who would prove the victors.

Kendal restarted shortly before three o’clock and the Rovers almost immediately invaded the Kendal territory, out of which they were never for two minutes together driven during the remainder of the game.

Kendal showed signs of exhaustion play being almost continually on their lines.

Final result Rovers 3-2-9 Kendal 1-0-5

I assume this was taken from a Hartlepool Rovers report as the Editorial above it told a slightly different story

Local Notes and Comments by Half-way and Others

Saturday was a disastrous day for the two Kendal* clubs who each played away and returned with an adverse score.

The Hartlepool Rovers had a “rod in pickle” for Kendal and smarting under the defeat that was meted out to them early on in the season on Maudes Meadow they had ostensibly on their own showing gone in for practice to wipe out the blot.

The result was that they played the strongest team they could whip together including several country players and two internationals and, need I add, they certainly accomplished the ends.

But Kendal were miserably represented, being minus nine players who scored the victory at home and they only took thirteen men. Two players had to be chosen at Hartlepool and as usual in such cases they were little good to the visitors.

To show the one-sidedness of the reports for the match I may point out that it was averred that there were five county men playing for Kendal while it gave Captain Carrudus as kicking off etc. This was pure invention for I myself espied Carradus in Highgate at the time the match was proceeding in Hartlepool.

In the first half Kendal, by the aid of a strong wind, held the upper hand, but after changing ends they fell away, and retired thoroughly vanquished. T

The railway journey is considerable and it is a question of whether such matches are worth cultivating.

* The “other” Kendal team the Hornets lost away at Morecambe on the same day 1 Goal 1 Try 5 Minors to 1 Goal

A report in “History of Football in Kendal 1871 to 1909” by Jim Clarke (this being 14 years before todays club was established) told a slightly different story again

A very even game took place in the first half. Kendal securing a goal. The Rovers had the best of the game in the second half, Yiend, Lohden, Smith, Morgan and M’Pherson scoring tries.

Hartlepool 3 Goals 2 tries Kendal 1 Goal, 1 Minor

“History of Football in Kendal 1871 to 1909” on the game earlier in the season

20th September 1890 at Kendal

This was the visitors' first attempt to try conclusions with the Cardinals.

A large number of spectators lined the ropes to witness what was considered the premier fixture on the club’s list.

A magnificent game ended in a win for Kendal. Carradus; Ewan; Chorley; Machell and Shaw did some splendid works, whilst Yiend (the International); Woodruff; Scott; and Horn were prominent for the Rovers who however were outplayed both in the pack and behind.

Kendal 1 goal; 3 Tries: Hartlepool Rovers : 1 Try 1 Minor,