WATERLOO director of rugby Jan Van Deventer looking forward to the New Year as his side enjoy a well-earned two-week break over the festive period.

He said: “We are in a good place at the moment and can look forward to 2013 with some confidence.

“Compared to this time last season, eighth place in National Three North gives us the opportunity to move into the top half of the table in the New Year rather than scrabbling to avoid relegation as we have been in the past.

“I am sure that will have a positive impact on our performance.”

However it could have gone so horribly wrong if, following the defeat at home to Burnage, they had failed to come up with the goods against Kendal it could have been a different story; such are the fine margins in league rugby.

According to sources at Kendal, they had recently recruited a number of South Africans and came to Blundellsands expecting to return up the M6 with the points.

Waterloo had other ideas and in a performance as good as anything so far this season they not only took the honours but the bonus point as well.

”This squad is the most ‘together’ I have ever been involved with,” Deventer remarked.

“They work for each other and although we perhaps could have won a couple more games there have been few occasions when I have been concerned about the effort.

“We may lack a physical presence up front but around the field we are as good as most sides in this league

”We are far from the finished article as we still make too many errors both collectively and as individuals but we are are getting there and the boys are always keen to learn.”

Waterloo will take some time off but will be back in training before the league programme restarts on January 5 away at improving Birkenhead Park in what is already building into what looks like being a full-blooded derby encounter.