Kirkby lose out in Manchester
A last minute change in venue resulted in this game being played at Bowden RUFC ground as Manchester ran out of water! A strange scenario for Manchester as a burst water main caused mayhem.
Conditions for rugby were perfect on a dry pitch basking in sunshine. Manchester kicked off gathered by Kirkby but the following ruck was held on and the ball lost. Manchester moved the ball along the backs but a stout defence by Kirkby won the ball back. Ree kicked to clear and a charge down gave the home team forwards the opportunity to score the first try after 10 minutes. 5-0. Manchester came back from the restart but a forward pass gave the visitors possession who ran the ball along the backs for Akrigg to score in the corner. 5 all after 15 minutes. Manchester came back at Kirkby and ran over for a try but deemed held up giving a drop out from under the posts. The home side moved the ball along their back line and this time were successful in the corner for their second try unconverted. Manchester were on the attack again but forward pass gave the visitors possessions who came within 10 yards of the whitewash. A pass along the back line was intercepted and the opposing backs made Kirkby pay the price as they moved the score to 17-5. Two minutes later saw the score move to 22-5 as the Kirkby lads looked shaken having put the effort in to see a better position on the scoreboard. Manchester tails were up and a combination of their forwards and good movement along the back line gave them a further 3 tries before half time with the score at 39-5. Again the errors kept creeping in for Kirkby during the first half but plenty of positives.
The second half saw both sides making errors and giving the ball away but Manchester managed to widen the gap through their winger after 10 minutes. The next half an hour saw both sides attacking and defending well with occasional mistakes by both teams giving the spectators some entertaining rugby. The home side however made the break through from a scrum and again their back line made the next score which their full back converting. From the restart they were back on the attack as the forwards broke through with a touch down under the posts within 2 minutes. Again converted showed the score on 58-5. High points for Kirkby were breaks by Akrigg and a 50-22 kick to take play into the opposition 22. Oats also saw the line beckoning from his kick through but ran out of play. Manchester had the final say when Kirkby played a quick line out in their own half but gifted it to the opposition for them to give the final score 65-5.
This was another frustrating day for the Kirkby lads and faithful spectators as the scoreboard does not give a true reflection of the game. All 18 give 100 per cent but the experience and strength of the opposition result in little reward. The win you deserve will come.