A CLUB stalwart for more than a decade, captain Matt Hughes believes the current Kirkby Lonsdale side is as talented as any from the recent past.

Kirkby produced a commanding performance to comfortably dispatch Warrington and go seventh in the league table, making it 15 bonus points for the season in the process – the highest in the division.

And Hughes believes the very nature of acquiring so many bonus points automatically shows the quality currently on show at Underley Park.

“This is my 12th season in the first-team and I would say it’s the best team I’ve played in,” he said.

“And talking to some of the supporters they say it’s one of the best if not the best they have ever seen at the club.

“We’ve got a good bunch of lads together at the minute and a good squad and everyone is happy and playing well.

“We’ve got the most bonus points in the league which isn’t just from victories but when we lose we tend to finish within seven points.

“The 15 points we’ve accumulated are the reason we are where we are in the league.”

As well as avenging a narrow 24-22 defeat against Warrington earlier in the campaign, Hughes also felt Saturday’s performance bore all the hallmarks of team at the top of their game.

“We felt a bit hard done to earlier in the season when we went to their place,” he added.

“There were a few dodgy refereeing decisions and we lost by two points with a penalty in the last kick of the game so we had some wrongs to put right.

“It was up there with the best all-round performance of the season from everyone, we used the whole bench and from one to 18 everyone got stuck in and fronted up.

“Everything we have been working on over the last few weeks and months seemed to click and come together on Saturday. It was very satisfying.”

Kirkby are without a game this weekend but face three derbies against Carlisle, Kendal and Vale of Lune when the season resumes, with Hughes keen to retain focus.

“We were happy with Saturday but also spoke afterwards that it means nothing if we go and mess it up against Carlisle,” he said.

“We’ve trained this week as usual. The 2nd XV have a game at home on Saturday so some lads who need game time may get a run out.

“The rest will either train or go and support.”