KIRKBY Lonsdale Rugby came away with a huge morale boosting win following their match against Northwich.

Their opponents began the match with a steepling kick which was caught successful and passed to Ben Walker who pressed on for a clearance kick into touch.

The kick was returned and Northwich were pushed back into the corner for a try inside the first minute of the game. However, the conversion was wide leaving it at 0-5 for Northwich.

Kirkby pressed on the pressure in response to Northwich’s initial success and answered back with a penalty which placed them at 5-3.

The Cumbrian side were beginning to find a strong rhythm and putting together some good waves of attack and from a skilful piece of play the ball ended with centre, James Coulton.

He had plenty to do but a blistering, tackle breaking, jinking run took him and the last two defenders over the line.

Walker was able to convert the try to put his side ahead 10 - 5 at the end of the first quarter.

Coulton got his second opportunity to run to the line which then gave Walker another kick to extend the lead to 17 - 5 on the half hour.

During the opening of the second half, a stubborn defence from Northwich held off Kirkby Lonsdale for a time, although the pressure did result in a yellow card for the Northwich number four.

As the game went on the visitors were hanging on until opened up by a well-timed flat pass from Walker which put Coulton through a gap in midfield and it was a clear run to the posts for the centre's hat trick try.

The conversion putting Kirkby in relatively clear water at 24 - 5.

A fourth try was created by Harry Ralston with a run down the touchline and into the visitors twenty-two, having drawn the cover he then well timed a pass inside to Walker who went in by the posts, the seven points making the score 31 - 5 at the end of the third quarter.

Northwich did fight back and bridged the gap as best they could after an unconverted try put them on 10.

Kirkby dominated the Remainer of the game and put in four tries during the final twenty minutes of the game.

Two came courtesy of flying winger Harry Huddleston and one apiece from prop George Oyston and the irrepressible number seven Stu Storey.

The end of the game saw a score of 53-10 to Kirkby Lonsdale, marking a huge morale booster for the club.

During the day, the half back pairing of Chris Park-Johnson at 9 and Walker at 10 were creative in their play and put holes in the opponents’ defences.

Their contributions were seen all over the field, and noticeably an impressive performance from Dan Helme at 12 who punched holes through Northwich.

The club celebrated their performance and look forward to many more successful games matching this success. Spirits will be high in the camp which is just as well since there are two tough fixtures to come, next up away at league leaders Otley and then second placed Preston Grasshoppers at home.