9:19am Friday 9th November 2007
By Dennis Aris
BOTH teams spent the opening minutes of this Lancs/Cumbria League match sounding each other out with, as usual, the bigger Workington forwards trying to impose some superiority. After that first phase Kirkby began to dominate possession, however and Workington gave away several penalties, which kept play in their half.
Green had a good run down the right wing and then, in a move down the centre, Atkinson made a good break and appeared to have two options for a certain score before slipping at a crucial moment.
Kirkby kept play around the visitors' 22 and another attack was stopped by a high tackle, Hadwin converted the penalty and Kirkby seemed well in control.
Green had another elusive run and, after the breakdown, Kirkby were awarded another penalty. From the limit of Hadwin's range the ball was just wide.
Things still kept going Kirkby's way and a move to the left saw Mallaband cross the try line but the final pass was judged to be forward.
Pickthall was the next to probe the defence, but again a slip stopped the move.
Under the posts, with Kirkby pressing, full-back Michael Hawley was offside and, as it was not the first time, got was yellow-carded.
The penalty was an easy kick for Hadwin for the half to end 6-0 to Kirkby.
The second half started much the same with Storey probing the visitors' defence, but Kirkby became too confident and throwing everything into attack resulted in the ball being turned over.
With Kirkby's defence out of position the ball was passed to Hawley in space who ran strongly to score by the posts.
No 10 Harper took the kick and, though most of the spectators on the grandstand side thought it was over the top and just outside the upright, the kick was given. Against the run of play Workington had the lead.
With the increasing wind behind Workington, both Hawley and stand-off Harper gained an immense amount of ground with kicks, but Kirkby continually worked the ball back up the field.
Williams, at stand-off, had taken a knock earlier in the game and had to leave the field with Anderson coming into the centre and Pickthall moving to fly-half.
Kirkby were desperate for a score, but appeared to be losing shape in the process. Despite this they again got to the visitors' line and battled away for several minutes, but Workington's defence held.
When Workington at last broke out a well-chased kick ahead neared the Kirkby try line. Mallaband managed to get it into touch, but the close-range lineout looked ominous for Kirkby. Although the visitors were held up in the first maul, third phase saw D. Lines crash over for a try.
This time Harper's kick was outside the posts, but with no time left a delighted Workington went away with an unexpected win.
At Oldham next week Kirkby must make better use of their chances for both penalties and tries to get back up the league table.
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