KIRKBY Lonsdale welcomed Northwich to Underley Park for the first game between the teams this season.

The Club Captain was away for this encounter along with five other regulars due to injuries with our youngsters making up the 18 man team.

Ollie Burrows took up the mantel of Captaining the side.

Kirkby kicked off from the clubhouse end on a pleasant afternoon despite the forecast.

The first 15 minutes saw both teams testing each other in attack and defence.

From a scrum inside the home teams half, the Northwich forwards gained yards before releasing to their backs who moved the ball out to the wing with the first try being scored.  

They were ahead on 0-7.

The Northwich pack took control after the restart, breaking through the line before the backs took over and scored in the corner within two minutes.

They were not able to convert so it stood on 0-12.

Kirkby youngsters appeared rattled saw a ragged performance over the next period which led to Northwich’s third try on the half hour to lead 0-19.

Burrow and Ree re-organised the team and from the restart attacked down the middle gaining a scrum 15 yards out, Nicholson sharply fed Ree at number 10 who cooly chipped over the visitors backs and followed through to put Kirkby on the board, to the delight of the home supporters.

A great individual try was then converted by the scorer to take the score to 7-19 with 10 minutes to half time.

The restart saw Northwich loose a man to a yellow card for a late tackle, from within their own half, Ree kicked the ball downfield for Akrigg to chase who gathered and headed to the line but was caught by Martin, the visitors full back, just short, however he managed to pass to Ree who scored his second try to close the gap to 12-19.

The Northwich forwards gathered from the kick off but held on in the ruck for a Kirkby scrum where Nicholson picked and broke through before kicking up to the visitors 22 and winning a penalty which Ree slotted for 3 points,the half time whistle saw the score board 15-19.

The second half started as the first half with moves by both sides that could have scored points but the breakthrough came Northwich’s way as their backs scored the bonus point try to lead 15-26. 

Two further tries by the visitors saw the lead increase to 15-40.

The Kirkby lads seemed to loose heart a little and the visitors took advantage as their full back, Martin, scythed through the Kirkby defence at speed to increase the score by 7 points.

The resiliant home side were not yet finished and a further individual break by Nicholson denied him a try 10 yards out Northwich cleared their line and there followed a disruptive period where tempers overflowed and Kirkby's Captain, Burrow was shown an example yellow card.

A period of niggles followed as Kirkby were awarded a penalty.

Oats followed the ball and had a chance to put his name on the score sheet but was bungled into touch.

The agro was still on the pitch as when a tackle on Nicholson by the Northwich prop can only be described as wrestlers throw over his shoulder which earned him a yellow card.

The penalty found touch on the visitors 22 but again the throw in was not straight, from the scrum Northwich backs were on the attack but lost the ball forward and Geordan Moss retrieved it and ran the 25 yards to score Kirkby’s third and his own debut  try to make it  22-47 with 7 minutes to the whistle.

A further try was carved out by Northwich’s full back, Martin, moved the score to 22-52.

A further attack by the lion hearted Kirkby Lads saw another yellow card to Northwich for a push tackle into touch.

The final score was 22-52.

Yet another spirited performance by the home side against a mid-table team who had rebuilt their side from last year with several overseas players.

Kirkby travel to Sandbach next week who are lying in the top quarter of the league.