INJURY-hit Kirkby fielded a makeshift side against Oldham in a North Lancs/Cumbria match on Saturday and made a bold fightback that they could not quite sustain.

Final score was Oldham 27 - Kirkby Lonsdale 15.

A James Mallaband penalty put Kirkby ahead in a bright start but Oldham struck back with three tries without reply.

Oldham's big pack set up the platform and they had two strong ex-Rugby League centres, who stood up in the tackle and released runners around them.

Kirkby did not move up and make their first-time tackles but a try from No.

8 Seb Wylder, who popped up in the centre and crossed in the corner, cut the deficit to 15-8 at half-time.

Oldham scored straight away after the break but Kirkby began to play, keeping the ball alive and running their older opponents off their feet.

Short-penalty moves posed a threat and from one of these scrum-half Tom Anderson took a quick tap to set outside-half Spencer Storey free to cross in the corner, Mallaband adding a superb conversion.

At 22-15, a chance to level the scores went begging when Storey set Simon Dowker free but he dropped the ball with the tryline beckoning.

Play evened up with Oldham kicking long and Kirkby running ball back.

Oldham were down to 14 men after a sinbinning but Kirkby could not take advantage and Oldham's South African peeled off the back of a ruck to score a try right at the end.

Tucked in mid-table, Kirkby went to Carlisle on Wednesday and went down 15-12 despite dominating.

They led 12-5 with tries from Luke Ladell and a Mark Squires effort which went the full length of the pitch, but then gifted a try before Carlisle won the match with a penalty.