Kirkby’s efforts still denied points
Kirkby welcomed Northwich to Underley Park for the first game between the teams this season. The Club Captain was away for this encounter along with 5 other regulars due to injuries with our youngsters making up the 18 men team. Ollie Burrow took up the mantel of captaining the side.
Kirkby kicked off from the Clubhouse end on a pleasant afternoon despite the forecast. The first 15 minutes saw both teams testing each other in both attack and defence. From a scrum inside the home sides half, the visitors forwards gained yards before releasing to their backs who moved the ball out to the wing with the first try being scored. 0-7. The restart was not 10 and the Northwich pack took control breaking through the line before their backs took over to score in the corner within 2 minutes. Not converted 0-12. Kirkby youngsters appeared rattled and a ragged performance over the next period led to Northwich's third try on the half hour to lead 0-19. Burrow and Ree re-organised the team and and from the restart attacked down the middle gaining a scrum 15 yards out. Nicholson fed Ree at number 10 who chipped over the visitors backs and followed through to put Kirkby on the board. A great individual try converted with the score at 7-19 with 10 mins to half time. The restart saw Northwich loose a man to a yellow card with a late tackle. From within their home half, Ree kicked down field for Akrigg to chase. He gathered and headed to the line but caught by the visitors full back, Martin, just short. However he managed a pass to Ree who scored his second try. 12-19. The Northwich forwards gathered but held on giving a Kirkby scrum and Nicholson picked up and broke through before kicking forward to the visitors 22 winning a penalty which Ree put between the points for 3 points. Half time with the score 15-19.
The second half started as the first half with moves by both sides that could have resulted in tries but the break through came Northwich's way as their backs scored the bonus point try to lead 15-26. Two more tries by the visitors within the next 15 minutes saw the lead increase to15-40. The Kirkby lads seemed to loose a little heart and the visitors took advantage as their full back, Martin, scythed through the Kirkby defence at speed increase the score by 7 points. Kirkby weren't finished yet and an individual break by Sam Nicholson denied him a try 10 yards out. However a scrum was awarded but the ball lost and cleared up field. There followed a disruption where handbags came out but the yellow card was given to Captain Burrow. The home team had a resurgence and following a penalty Oats had a chance to put his name on the score sheet but was bungled into touch. There followed a few niggles on the pitch and the Northwich prop tackled Nicholson in what can only be described as a wrestlers throw over his shoulder. Another yellow card was shown. The penalty found touch on the visitors 22 but the ball was deemed not straight. Northwich were on the attack again from the scum but lost the ball forward and G Moss retrieved it and ran the 20 yards to score Kirkby's third try. 22-47 with 7 minutes to full time. Kirkby knocked on from restart and a further try by Martin moved the score to 22-52. A further attack by the lion hearted Kirkby lads resulted in a further yellow awarded to the visitors for a push tackle before the final whistle blew.
Yet another spirited performance by the home side against a mid-table team who had rebuilt their side from last year with several overseas players. Another hard game next week at Sandbach who are lying in the top quarter of the league.
As seen by DJH