Kirkby win at Winnington

Kirkby headed down the motorway for their encounter against another Club whose pedigree is well documented in rugby circles. Back into the side comes Nicholson but Baines was missing from the pack after a bruising game at Waterloo last week.
The home side kicked off, gathered by Kirkby who advanced to the half way line before the ball was stolen, but the Kirkby forwards stole it back in the ruck that followed. Testing times for both sides before the Park’s number 10 chipped over Kirkby’s back line and the friendly bounce gave him a try in the 7th minute. 7-0. Both sides made handling errors over the next quarter of an hour but Kirkby were caught holding on in a ruck and the stand off was there to slot the ball and move the score to 10-0. The visitors looked somewhat dejected until they gained a penalty which Higgs put them on the board,10-3. A high tackle by Kirkby saw Winnington increase their lead to 13-3. From the restart the home team gained the ball and fed the back line to give them a try on the stroke of half time. The break saw the score at 18-3. Hadwin and Groves had some work to do in the ten minutes of half time to encourage their players.
Kirkby restarted with a renewed enthusiasm and energy by pinning the home side down in their own half. After 10 minutes of pressure the forwards won a ruck and the pack went over the try line as one, to score their first try of the match. Higgs converted to reduce the deficit to 8 points. Kirkby pressure continued with the half time chat paying dividends as the forwards again drove over with Bradshaw coming up with the honours. Higgs again slotted the conversion to make the score board read 18-17. The home side regrouped and took play into the visitors half but strong defence held and play moved up field where the Kirkby forwards again took the ball over the line with Callum Little emerging with the ball. Higgs was on target to give the lead to Kirkby. 18-24 with the last quarter of the game remaining. The Park weren’t finished as following a penalty they attacked from the line out. A try looked on the cards before the ball was stolen and cleared with the back line of Nicholson and Oats chasing. Received by Oats he headed north but was tackled as he released the ball to Lawson who scored under the posts. Higgs did the honours and the 4th try moved the score to 18-31. The home team chased the ball as Kirkby gathered with 10 minutes remaining and the defence holding to run the clock down, the home supporters found their voices as their side scored their first try of the half. The drop goal conversion showed that full time was looming. 25-31. Winnington attacked again from the restart and as the eighty minutes was up, they scored their 4th try with a conversion to come. The home team were holding their breath as the ball shaved past the posts to give Kirkby their second win of the season and 5 points in the bag. 30-31.
A great win for Kirkby as they move up the league with Liverpool St Helens at home next week.

DJH.