WITH an important home match against Broughton Park looming large this weekend, Kirkby Lonsdale skipper Matt Hughes accepts his side cannot keep starting games poorly.

The Underley Park side found themselves 22 points down against Liverpool St. Helens last weekend before mounting a stirring comeback and claiming a bonus point.

Hughes – who remains on the sidelines – believes the final scoreline could have been all so different had it not been the concession of early points.

“The way we started we would have been happy to come away with the bonus point but talking to the lads afterwards they were disappointed we didn’t win the game,” he said.

“They thought we had a team that was more than good enough to win the game but we had another terrible start which keeps letting us down.

“We have been talking in training and we are definitely looking to get a win on Saturday and build on our result against Leigh, especially with a run of tough fixtures coming up.

“But Broughton Park are no mugs. They are a good young side but hopefully coming to Kirkby on a wet, horrible day will hopefully do us some favours.”

The 29-year-old second-row powerhouse is keen to highlight the growing influence of Australian import Sam Latu, who now has three tries in as many games.

And with Lewis Horner and Callum Sheldon also featuring of late, the club’s youth policy is something which continues to bear fruit.

“Sam is coming good – he has settled in with the squad and is doing well,” he added.

“He is proving a useful outlet for us. We have a few small, quick lads but every now and again you need a battering ram and he offers that.

“Lewis, who is in the Colts, started his second game at six and produced another good performance while another youngster Callum was on the bench.

“He had a good run out and didn’t let himself down which is extremely positive.”