KIRKBY Lonsdale RUFC picked up yet another bonus point as they hammered Altrincham Kersal 32-0 despite a very early red card.

Second row David Cooper-Dunn was given a red card for seeking retribution for a knee to the face inside the opening minutes, but Kirkby rallied round and two Ryan Terry penalties and a converted Lwazi Ngcumgama try gave them an early 13-0 lead.

Kersal couldn’t make their extra man count as Kirkby covered every blade of grass and tackled the visitors out of the game. They extended their lead when winger Harry Ralston scored the second try by the corner flag. Terry was wayward with the conversion meaning Kirkby went in at the break 18 points to the good.

The fourteen men of Kirkby continued to dominate the game in the second half, containing Kersal as required and attacking with flair when those opportunities arose. The win was obviously vital to Kirkby but equally important was the four-try bonus point and they edged closer to that mid way through the half when good work by stand off Dave Barton put Terry in the clear down the right to score the third try.

The irrepressible Ngcumgama finally put the icing on the cake with his second and the vital fourth try. Terry slotted the conversion to seal an excellent performance, making the final score 32 – 0 and maintain Kirkby’s reversible two point deficit in second place.

There will be concerns in the Kirkby camp about centre Jack Akrigg who was helped off in the first half and other players with twinges here and there as they anticipate next week's crucial fixture away at third-placed Wilmslow, a bonus point win in that match would throw the title chase wide open.