Carlisle defeat Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbrian derby (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Carlisle defeat Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbrian derby

12:56pm Monday 17th September 2012 in Sport

Kirkby Lonsdale 6

Carlisle 26

North One West

THE scoreline didn’t reflect the performance as Kirkby Lonsdale succumbed to defeat in the first Cumbrian derby of the season.

Kirkby got off to a great start when Carlisle misjudged the kick and didn't catch it. The Underley Park side grabbed the bounce and this gave them possession and field position in the Carlisle half.

When Carlisle went offside Kirkby missed the chance to put points on the board but within a few minutes and under pressure the visitors infringed again and this time Liam Cleary was on target to make it 3-0.

Kirkby were the better side during the early exchanges and enjoyed the majority of possession and territory. There were glimpses of opportunities and half chances but despite their best efforts they didn't get over the line.

As Carlisle settled chances began to come their way through a succession of penalties but they were unable to put the ball between the sticks.

The balance had shifted to the visitors and they gave the home side plenty of defending to do.

As half time approached Carlisle were applying pressure near the home line and Kirkby prop Tim Groves was unlucky to be given a straight yellow. With a man advantage Carlisle were able to work centre Barry Earl into a gap to score near the posts to edge the visitors ahead 7-3 as the half time whistle blew.

Kirkby caught the second half restart cleanly and worked the ball into the visitors territory but lost possession.

Carlisle had a fast and powerful back division and for the first time in the game they clicked and running the ball back at pace, winger Clarke went over in the right corner. The conversion failed but their lead had stretched to 12-3 with the second half only a few minutes old.

Kirkby hit back with a penalty to narrow the gap to 12-6 but midway through the half as they pressed deep into Carlisle territory the visitors came up with the ball and a flowing move almost the full length of the pitch put another seven points on the board to make it 19-6.

Kirkby badly needed a score to get back in the game and were unlucky to be held up over the line.

Orrega Luca was brought on for his debut in a first team shirt as Kirkby continued to press and as they hammered at the Carlisle line the visitors’ number eight Lee Brompton was yellow carded.

But Kirkby couldn't take advantage and they played the 10 minutes without adding to their score.

Going into the last 10 minutes the home side threw everything into attack but Carlisle had the last say with another well taken seven-point try to take the final score to 26-6.