NORTH One West champions Kirkby Lonsdale got back to business after celebrating securing promotion with an emphatic 46-13 win away at Altrincham Kersal.

Two weeks on from cementing the title, the runaway leaders scored seven tries in the blistering sunshine at Stelfox Avenue to inch closer to registering a perfect season.

They took the required next step with this match and scored a try in the opening minutes when stand-off Dave Barton broke through, took the ball up and cut out the last defender with a pass to centre Harry Ralston who scampered in. The conversion was missed but Kirkby were ahead 5-0.

That good start was followed by a period of pressure in the Kersal twenty two and complemented by a try from right wing Harry Huddleston, the senior colt who is settling in very well to first team duties. Again the conversion was wayward but the lead was doubled. Kersal hit back with a spell in Kirkby territory but although close couldn’t get the ball over the line and eventually settled for a penalty when Kirkby didn’t roll away in the tackle to close the gap to 10-3.

The ten-point margin was restored when Kirkby full back Ryan Terry was on target with a penalty but Kirkby were almost immediately undone by a try from the home side when they ran from outside the Kirkby twenty two. They should have been tackled but they weren’t and an unconverted try left the score 13-8.

Half time was approaching, territorially Kirkby had had the upper hand in the half and were again maintaining play near the Kersal line but it was scrappy. Kersal were penalised, Walker tapped and went and was over for the third try and it was 18-8 at the break.

Barton had the first shout in the second half when he forced his way through in typically muscular fashion for the bonus point fourth try and at the fourth time of asking Terry nailed the conversion to extend the lead to 25-8.

Kirkby then had a scrum around ten metres into the Kersal half and towards the left touchline. Dummy runners drew defenders infield but Kirkby switched play to the short side and attacked down the left wing where Martyn Knapton handed off a defender to score in the corner. Terry made it two in a row to nail the difficult conversion to put Kirkby in a commanding position at 32-8.

Kersal definitely had their moments in the match, their scrum was solid even if Kirkby just had the edge and their backs, who have always had flair, caused problems for Kirkby from time to time. But, even though not firing on all cylinders it was mainly Kirkby and their next score came from an attack which Kersal bundled into touch. Kirkby nicked their throw, the ball was moved infield and to back row Ross Towers who battled through a couple of tackles to score under the posts. Terry’s conversion extended the gap to 39-8.

Into the last ten minutes and Kirkby again managed to turn a try scoring opportunity into a scramble although this time things went in their favour. Huddleston got possession of the loose ball but was facing away from the Kersal line and spun round and beat two men to score in the corner. Terry's kick put Kirkby 46-8 ahead.

As full time approached Kersal got a move going at the Kirkby line but were turned over. Kirkby ran it out of defence almost to half way where a difficult slip pass was intercepted by Kersal who ran it back and scored their second try to give the final score of 46-13.

This was not Kirkby's strongest showing of the season but nonetheless was enough to give them their 23rd consecutive victory of the season. Next up is Birkenhead Park at Underley Park on Saturday.