Kirkby Lonsdale 28 - 26 Warrington

YOUNG full back Ryan Terry kicked a late penalty to give Kirkby Lonsdale the win in a tight affair against pre-season title contenders Warrington at Underley Park.

With five players on the absentee or injured list, Jonas Thorson and Ryan Holmes put in shifts at one and three, Sam Cairns came in at seven, multi talented Allan Robinson was at eight and centre Tom Pickthall played at scrum half.

Jack Akrigg started his first game of the season and Kiwi speed merchant David Bird made his debut on the right wing.

The home side enjoyed a blistering start and had the bonus points secured in the first seventeen minutes.

Warrington kicked off towards the town but it was Kirkby who made the first decisive move when 17-year-old winger Harry Ralston broke out of his own half only to be hauled down a couple of metres short in the left corner.

Kirkby kept the pressure on and Warrington yielded a penalty in centre field. It was in a kickable position but Kirkby moved quick ball to the right and stand off Dave Barton scored in the corner with only three minutes on the clock.

Warrington were undone again in the tenth minute by another fast and powerful surge by Kirkby. Skipper Matt Hughes finished the move with a try in the same right corner.

Two minutes later Ralston scored Kirkby’s third try and Ryan Terry was on target with the conversion to stretch the lead to 17-0.

Kirkby stand off Barton crossed for his second try five minutes later to give them a 22 – 0 lead.

Warrington hit back with a converted try to reduce the deficit to 22-7 on the half hour before closing out the first half with their second converted try as the half time whistle blew to turn the sides round at 25-14.

The visitors capitalised on a mistimed pass from Kirkby as they ran out of defence to close the gap to just four points before they took the lead for the first time with a try with five minutes left on the clock - 25-26.

Barton’s restart kick was beautifully floated and Kirkby managed to retrieve it and this set up field position and possession in the visitors half.

As Kirkby worked the ball forward through number four Nick Edney he saw a Warrington player in an offside position and thinking quickly ran into him leaving the referee with an easy decision to award the offside penalty just outside the twenty two and mid way to the left touchline.

Terry, 18, handled the pressure and calmly drilled the ball between the posts to restore Kirkby’s lead at 28 - 26 before their defence held on to secure a pulsating victory.