KIRKBY Lonsdale recovered from an early scare and continued their unbeaten run this weekend after defeating Eccles 32-18.

The home side went two tries down early on but found inspiration in Lwazi Ngcungama who scored three times when he came off the bench in the second half.

Skipper and scrum half Ben Walker scored the bonus point try for Kirkby in the dying minutes of the game.

After a draw against Warrington last week, the victory leaves Kirkby one point behind league leaders Wilmslow but they remain the only undefeated side.

Eccles kicked off the scoring after just eight minutes when they intercepted a pass off the back of a scrum and charged for the line scoring in the right corner.

The next ten minutes were dominated by the visitors and their second try came in the 18th minute after prolonged forward pressure near the Kirkby line.

Eccles again pressured Kirkby near their line shortly after but a ferocious defence kept them out this time which proved to be a turning point.

Kirkby managed to close the gap through a Tom Pickthall penalty after 22 minutes, only to see Eccles restore the margin with a penalty of their own five minutes later.

A Kirkby penalty to touch down the left around ten metres from the Eccles line though allowed them worked the ball to Ngcungama who was steered over by the pack.

The home side went close again when centre Jack Akrigg flicked a pass off the back of his hand to full back Harry Raiston who ran at pace down the outside centre channel before passing to Martyn Knapton but the move was halted by an Eccles tackle and the score remained 15-10 to the visitors at half time.

Ten minutes into the second half Ngcungama was driven over again and held up but moments later Walker slipped a deft inside pass to him and this time he wrestled through for his second try and Pickthall bagged the conversion.

Kirkby were in the lead for the first time and they extended around half an hour into the second half as Ngcungama found space to cross for his third try.

It was Walker who had the final say from a penalty inside the Eccles 22 with a tap and go solo effort to score the bonus point try.

On Saturday, Kirkby take on Aspatria away in the quarter final of the Cumbria Cup and league action will resume the following week at Altrincham Kersal.

Team: Dan Armistead, Matt Hoyland, Brodie Rowse, David Cooper Dunne, Leandro Kwiczor, Ed Towers, Lwazi Ngcungama, Craig Galbraith, Ben Walker, Tom Slater, David Bird, Jack Akrigg, Tom Pickthall, Martyn Knapton,Harry Ralston

Bench: Alex Rodgers, Nick Edney, Jonas Thorsen