KIRKBY Lonsdale proved they could still be dangerous despite being on the losing end of a match in the Premier League against Burnage.

Kirkby were closer to being competitive in their latest match which saw a tough match against Burnage 19 on October 16.

The team showed great maturity and commitment against a bustling set of Burnage forwards who often employed Rugby League style tackling methods.

The artificial pitch was not the ideal surface being strewn with excessive black rubber crumb but as usual Kirkby adapted as well as they could to the local conditions.

Early exchanges indicated that the game should be a very even and entertaining contest and so it was with neither team giving much quarter until a couple of missed tackles allowed Burnage backs to have a free run to the line to score and convert a simple try.

Kirkby failed with two long distance penalty attempts highlighting one of their current weaknesses to capitalise on opposition mistakes.

To Kirkbys credit they played with growing confidence and we’re eventually rewarded with a well worked move thanks to quick ball coming from the pack then a slick passing passing set gaining good ground to be finished of with a trade mark jinking score from Ben Walker wrong footing two defenders to touch down close to the post after which he easily converted to go in seven all at half time.

The second half was disappointing and worked to Burnage advantage when Kirkby lost the power & experience of Dan Armitage and then Captain Ben Walker through injury although their replacements proved to be well up to the job.

Kirkbys balance was upset and the defensive cracks were spotted and exploited by the Burnage back division to pinch another couple of tries to eventually clinch the game by nineteen points to seven but Kirkby still have much to be proud of and on a traditional pitch would probably have earned a much closer result.