Rugby - Disallowed try leaves Kirkby playing catch-up (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Disallowed try leaves Kirkby playing catch-up

10:34am Saturday 7th March 2009 in

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Kirkby Lonsdale 3.

Vale of Lune 10.

SEEKING to avenge a still all too painful defeat, Vale put the first points on the board in this rearranged Cumbria/North Lancs league match at Underley Park on Saturday.

Kirkby had had a penalty chance but Hadwin’s kick went wide.

When Vale forced a five-metre scrum, scrum-half Hughes made then most of a quick free kick awarded as he had ball in hand and darted under the posts, Foster converting for a 7-0 lead.

Kirkby seixed on a loose ball to give their backs possession and Barton made a clean break through sent a perfectly-timed pass to Green, who burst over the tryline and seemed to have scored.

To the disappointment of the home supporters, the referee ruled he had not grounded the ball.

However, Kirkby kept the pressure on and Vale gave away a penalty which Hadwin converted.

A hard-fought game became a physical tussle and Hadwin - of all people - was yellow carded for slowing play.

Vale could not exploit their extra-man advantage and with the Kirkby back row of Robinson, Galbraith and Shepherd tackling strongly, allied to Storey finding good touches, there was no further score before half time.

Early in the second half Vale appeared to have a golden chance with quick ball for their backs and Kirkby outnumbered, but amazingly they chose to kick the ball up the right touchline.

Even so, Vale maintained the pressure and the giant Halliwell proved more dangerous than he had in the earlier fixture.

Play swept into the Kirkby 22, where they forced a penalty and Foster extended the lead to 10-3.

The pattern seemed set, with Vale driving forward and Kirkby defending well and making occasional breakout with Vokes showing his power.

Vale good ground until they won a penalty within kicking range, but this time Foster was off target.

Instead Kirkby broke out again and Green chased a long kick and took the Vale full back by surprise, but the ball went into touch.

Vale thratened with a chip over the top but it went over the dead-ball line and then a misjudged final pass just denied them a try.

Kirkby held firm in defence and the speedy Balshaw came on to look for a gap to score a vital try.

Despite all of skipper Dowker’s efforts to lead his men to even greater efforts, Vale defended to the final whistle.

Vale had enjoyed the majority of possession but Kirkby once again had showed their dogged never-say-die spirit once again.

The Second XV were disappointed when Blackburn rang to say they could not raise a side.