Rugby: Kirkby edged out by neighbours Upper Eden (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby: Kirkby edged out by neighbours Upper Eden

3:33pm Thursday 10th November 2011 in Rugby By Patrick O'Kane, Senior News/Sport Reporter

Kirkby Lonsdale 13
Upper Eden 14
TOM Pickthall made his return to the Kirkby side after 18 months out with a serious knee injury, but his comeback couldn’t prevent a home defeat against Upper Eden.

Kirkby took an early lead when Chris Ramwell kicked a penalty when Eden came in from the side of a ruck but a second penalty was missed as the wind swirled around the pitch.

Eden’s Whitehead was soon to be sin binned, but the visitors who responded with two penalties of their own to lead 6-3.

It got worse for Kirkby as Eden took advantage at a breakdown to score an unconverted try, before a penalty made made it 14-3 at half-time.

Kirkby rallied and prop Tim Groves broke through the Eden line from 10m out to give the hosts a fighting chance at 14-10 as Ramwell added the extras.

Captain Matt Hughes damaged knee ligaments and was replaced before Ramwell struck a penalty to close the gap to 14-13 but Kirkby couldn’t find the extra score and had to settle for a losing bonus point.