KIRKBY LONSDALE’S momentum is building after a fourth straight home win, although skipper Matt Hughes insists the unpredictability of the league makes any end of season predictions difficult to judge.

Hughes was absent from the starting line-up as Kirkby recorded a bonus point victory over Altrincham Kersal at the weekend, building on recent successes against Wigton, Broughton Park and Leigh.

But irrespective of his side’s impressive form at Underley Park, Hughes still maintains he would be satisfied with a mid-table finish – the target at the start of the campaign.

“We haven’t really discussed anything along the lines of final league positions but I know some of the lads are aiming for a top-five finish,” he said.

“Personally I’m looking to finish mid-table like we set out at the start of the season but everyone is in with a shout this year.

“The first half of the season has thrown up a few upsets with bottom half teams more than capable of beating the top two or three.

“There is a cluster of teams in the middle of the table and anything is possible. I imagine there is further entertainment to come as the season unfolds.

“We seem to be doing ok at home now, we had a couple of slip-ups against Wirral and Carlisle but since then we’ve kicked on.

“Teams don’t like coming to us and that bodes well for the remainder of the campaign.”

And while revelling in the commanding performance against Altrincham, Hughes is equally excited about the prospect of a full-strength Kirkby hitting the ground running in January.

“It was a very impressive win on Saturday – we’d targeted victory but to do it that comfortably was a big bonus,” he added.

“It was good to get the maximum amount of points available, although there wasn’t much entertaining rugby played, it was more a case of the lads getting stuck in and grinding out the win.

“When our next game against Birkenhead Park rolls around after the break we should be at full strength which will be a good situation to be in.”