HIGH winds and horizontal rain greeted Kirkby Lonsdale at Carlisle on Saturday, but they battled past the elements and the home side to secure a narrow 10-5 North Premier victory.

Without the injured Dave Barton, Ben Walker took over as skipper as Kirkby looked to follow up on their convincing win in the home fixture.

In barely playable conditions, Kirkby struck first, flanker Josh Sheridan setting up a position for stand off Mike Fearon on the right to cross for a try which he converted himself.

Rhys Gealy came off the bench and Kirkby resorted to their more normal formation with Ben Walker moving to nine and Fearon to ten, but they were put on the defensive by the home side.

And Carlisle got their reward on the half hour when Kirkby made a mess of things at the back of a scrum near the half way line and they hacked on to score an unconverted try.

But as half time approached, the home side were penalised for holding on and Fearon defied the conditions to nail the kick to extend the lead to 5-10.

Kirkby’s Reece Tomlinson was then yellow carded for a high tackle for which he could have little argument.

But Carlisle couldn’t make their extra man count and in the second half, winger Harry Huddleston came close to extending the lead.

Kirkby were then awarded a sitter of a penalty which would have created a two score margin but Fearon narrowly missed it and the game remained within Carlisle’s reach.

However, the visitors proved to be the fitter and stronger side and kept resolutely to their task to see the game out.