Rugby - Hoodoo ends after final-kick drama (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Hoodoo ends after final-kick drama

10:38am Saturday 8th November 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

Wigton 20.

Kirkby Lonsdale 22.

KIRKBY had never beaten Wigton away and it looked as if the hoodoo was starting again when Wigton scored directly from the kick-off.

The ball was moved to wily Kiwi stand-off Manihera and he threw a double mis-pass to his outside centre, who found a large gap before putting fellow centre Pattinson in under the posts, Manihera converting.

However, Kirkby responded immediately. A scrum on the tryline saw quick ball moved across the backs and a long pass gave Mallaband a stroll-in at the corner for an unconverted try.

Kirkby’s acting captain Ryan Holmes took a knock but continued and a couple of penalties put Kirkby on the attack, a good run by Holmes enabling Mallaband to again score in the corner, again unconverted.

When the Wigton restart kick did not go ten metres, Kirkby got the ball back and Hadwin broke through and exchanged passes with Mallaband before hooker Groves went over for his side's third unconverted try.

Kirkby then conceded three consecutive penalties to put Manihera in easy range and he reduced the lead to 15-10.

Kirkby's quick passing was too much for Wigton and another smart move saw Barton get the ball close to the tryline and jink past the defenders to score near the posts.

This time Hadwin converted and the half ended with Kirkby leading 22-10.

Although grimly determined in the second half, Wigton seemed set to go further behind when left wing Logue appeared to stamp on an opponent. However, he was only shown a yellow card and Pickthall's penalty was wide.

Gaining good ground for a penalty lineout, Kirkby ball was palmed down to Hughes, who came around the front at pace and found Konczynski in support. He almost reached the tryline but Wigton recovered and got the ball away.

As in the previous week Kirkby began to be penalised frequently as the game became very stop-start.

A Wigton penalty took play into the bottom right-hand corner and this time weight told as they mauled over for a try.

Manihera's kick was wide and at 22-15 the last quarter was going to be a tense affair.

Barton had been keeping a close eye on the Kiwi stand-off but had taken a knock and eventually had to leave the field to be replaced by Thorsen.

Four more penalties took Wigton into an attacking position and they worked a score in the left corner.

Kirkby supporters watched the last kick of the match with bated breath but Manihera sent his kick well wide and the final whistle blew.

Both the Seconds and the thirds had good victories making it a very successful weekend for the club.