CROWDS were treated to a hard-fought game between two teams from Kirkby Lonsdale and North Rib.

The youthful exuberance combined with grown up mature skill sets produced a highly entertaining game of rugby.

It has also come to pass that in front of a capacity (bar) sized crowd, the two friendly adversaries arranged a fixture to showcase the present and the future of Rugby for both their iconic clubs.

Kirkby’s Colts are a hugely impressive team throughout, their results speak for themselves this season, with several outstanding performers across the full age range.

North Rib have also have an envious Mini and Youth system but Kirkby have learned a hard lesson that senior player retirement hastened by the tragedy of a two year Pandemic leaves an embarrassing void and a lack of mature experienced players.

Kirkby’s difficult league season is already well documented but if the young talent on show on New Year’s Day can eventually merge successfully with the remains of the existing senior side then the future for Kirkby first team rugby is once again a quite exciting prospect.

The crowd were treated to a display of slick handling, awesome tackling and some telling precision conversion and line kicking from both sides.

In a game where tries were hard won due to great defence, they came after exciting well organised build ups and clinical finishing from both side with Kirkby having the edge on both halves.