Kirkby’s spirit remains high
The winter weather postponed this fixture back in December as members and supporters from Stockport were welcomed to Underley Park on this first Saturday of the 6 Nations tournament. Kirkby started proceedings from the Clubhouse end as Stockport forwards gathered and attacked moving the ball along their backs and up to Kirkby's 22. The defence held and play moved back to half way. The teams were feeling their opponents weaknesses before a break by the two Stockport centres saw their wing score the first try of the match. Converted with 15 minutes on the clock. The next period of play saw attacking moves by both sides before Ree broke through the line and kicked ahead. Retrieved by the Stockport full back who cleared up field. The home pack gathered and headed back down into the opposition's half and the following ruck drew a penalty to Kirkby and earned a yellow card for Stockport. Instead of going for touch Ree slotted the ball between the posts to bring up the home sides first score with 29 minutes gone.
Kirkby spilled the ball from the restart and the visitors had the scrum. Good defence by Kirkby but the ruck that followed saw Number 6, Little, yellow carded for not rolling away. Both sides were down to 14 men as Stockport took the line-out and drew a scrum 5 yards out. Their pack of 8 against Kirkby's 7 wasn't noticed by the referee as they had a push over try under the posts. Converted the score was 3-14 with 7 minuted to half time. Attacking moves by both sides so no further score as the whistle blew for half time.
Stockport started the second half with a kick cleared by Kirkby but the following line out was not straight and the home side regained the advantage. The visitors turned over the ball from the scrum and attacked but the Kirkby defence held giving a scrum 5 yards out. Stockport forwards saw the first try of the second half as they pushed the home pack back. Converted, the score board was 3-21. The next 10 minutes saw both sides making errors but a penalty given away by Kirkby gave Stockport the initiative and their bonus point try was scored by the back line with15 minutes of the half played. 3-28. Stockport were under pressure from the restart as they knocked on and gave Kirkby the scrum. Nicholson fed Ree who broke one tackle and headed towards the line before a chip over the last defender to score an individual try which he converted to give the home spectators something to cheer about. 10-29. Again, penalties and mistakes gave a scrappy period of play until a Stockport attack gave their winger his second try and the kick sailed through the uprights to give them a 26 point lead. Three minutes later the visitors pack rumbled over to move the score to 10-43 with 7 minutes to full time. Kirkby lads were looking tired but as last week, resilience and pride in wearing the red, amber and black shirt saw Weeks score from a Kirkby attack despite have two opponents on his back. The conversion by Lawson saw the final score 17-43 to send the home supporters away with a smile on their faces.
These young lads are gelling together well under the captainship of Alex Briggs and give their all for the Club. However we need to stop mistakes and giving penalties but our coaches, Dave Barton, James Hadwin and Leandro are shaping the lads for the future.
As seen by DJH
