Following two recent excellent results Kirkby were almost relishing the prospect of travelling to lowly Northwich who are the only team in the Northern Premier League below Kirkby.

However, despite their positive outlook, several factors conspired against Kirkby including a spongy bumpy playing surface which made free running and place kicking extremely difficult and stamina sapping.

Despite it being the same for both sides, Kirkby developed an exciting running game as well as a ferocious scrummaging & tackling attitude which wins penalties from frustrated opposition.

The conditions didn’t help so Kirkby were often frustrated when they should have been ahead throughout the game.

The travelling supporters enjoyed a very special early reward involving a delightful passage of play.

Penned into their own 22 and stoutly defending against the big Northwich forwards, the ball came loose and was picked up by Center James Coulter.

He barged forward, breaking tackles before laying a clean ball back assisted by some classy protection from Dan Armistead the ball was swiftly passed to feisty Will Brown who was already moving at pace taking defenders out of position then at the critical moment he spun a perfect pass out to the safe hands of Harry Huddleston who outpaced and wrong footed at least four defenders to run a good 60 Meters to score with his own trademark spectacular dive under the posts to give Ben Charlesworth an easy conversion and Kirkby a stunning 7 point lead.

Northwich were rocked by this start and seemingly quite irritated which spilled over into them committing a number of penalties.

These eventually accumulating into several yellow cards.

During the main portion of the game Kirkby did well to a avoid getting involved; but apart from another single Charlesworth penalty, those were the last points that Kirkby would score in the game.

Northwich regained discipline and were themselves rewarded with a well worked try which involved several missed tackles by Kirkby.

The try was converted and followed by a gifted penalty.

The half time score stood at 13-10 to Kirkby.

A stuttering second half saw Kirkby having most of the territorial possessing but in the face of some spoiling tactics they failed to capitalise on a string of penalties given against Northwich.

They were also gifted with a penalty and a yellow card which allowed the home side to level the scores at 13 each.

The points gained from the draw has lifted Kirkby up by another place in league table which is a just reward for the vastly improved performances shown in the last three games.

Kirkby will be entertaining the runaway league leaders Otley next weekend so there should be some good entertainment to watch at Underley Park.