RUGBY: Late Martyn Knapton try chalked off as Kirkby slip to defeat at league leaders Birkenhead Park

WINGER Martyn Knapton was controversially denied a late try as Kirkby Lonsdale lost ground on league leaders Birkenhead Park in a narrow defeat at Upper Park.

The Underley Park side outscored their opponents three tries to two but couldn’t find the win which would have seen them leapfrog their opponents to the summit of North One West.

The opening stages were 50/50 and the first real try scoring chance of the game came from Kirkby when young winger Harry Ralston was tackled by the right corner flag.

But from the breakdown Kirkby moved the ball across the field where centre Tom Pickthall made a weaving run to score by the left corner flag.

He was unable to convert his own try but Kirkby had the start they wanted with the score at 0-5 after fifteen minutes.

Park hit back with a period of pressure deep in Kirkby territory and had a scrum on Kirkby’s five metre line.

They went for the drive but Kirkby held firm. Park still had possession though and rumbled into centre field gaining ground by inches until they finally spun out of a maul to stretch out and score on the line and under the posts to take the lead.

As the home side launched attacks at the line Kirkby’s number seven Stuart Storey was yellow carded after thirty minutes played.

However, despite having a man advantage, possession and an attacking position Park couldn’t score and during this ten minute period it was Kirkby who profited when stand off Dave Barton burst through tackles from just inside the twenty two to score by the posts. Pickthall converted to put Kirkby back in the lead at 7-12.

The game was in some danger of developing into an ugly affair when almost on half time the ref showed Park number eight Dave Ibbotson a straight red for punching.

Park slotted over a penalty before they regained the lead after Kirkby centre Jack Akrigg was yellow carded

Restored to fifteen Kirkby were finding it difficult to find momentum and had a lot of defending to do to keep the home side at bay.

Living off scraps of possession, Ben Walker drew scores level with an unconverted try but Park restored the lead with a penalty with 12 minutes left to play.

The game was still massively in the balance but it almost went Kirkby’s way when Walker found space and ran a looping run from centre field mid way in the Park half towards the left corner.

He looked certain to score but was bundled into touch by the flag and Park cleared the danger.

Kirkby were denied again inside the last five minutes by referee Philip Stokes.

Walker was in the action when he weighted a grubber kick down the right touchline for winger Knapton to run on to and he raced through to pick up and dive over to ground the ball and cross the line.

But joy was turned into dismay when Stokes judged Knapton was in front of the kicker.

Kirkby: Jonas Thorsen, Pablo Kwiczor, Tim Groves, Matt Hughes, Nick Edney, David Cooper-Dunne, Stuart Storey, Craig Galbraith, Ben Walker, Dave Barton, Harry Ralston, Jack Akrigg, Tom Pickthall, Martyn Knapton, Chad Spence. Subs: Ryan Holmes, Sam Cairns, Chris Ramwell