A draw at the Vale

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A WELL EARNED DRAW FOR KIRKBY

Apologies for this short report on Saturday’s game as we visited our old friends at Vale for the first time in a number of years. Notebook was forgotten so memory comes to the fore.
Vale kicked off in this local derby with some spirit to upset their rivals with a fierce attack down the middle of the field. Kirkby were on the defensive from the start but held their opponents during this fifteen minute attack. As the home side made little success through their forward play they switched to the backs. A smart move along the line saw their quick right winger chip over Lawson at full back to score the first try of the match with 20 minutes gone. Five minutes later saw a similar chip by the home sides number 13 to move the score to 14-0. Unperturbed, Kirkby came back from the restart and saw the forwards press forward before, Charlie Lomas went over to put Kirkby on the board. 14-5. Vale had the final say of the half with a kick through and a try to see the half time score 19-5.
Magic again from Kirkby Coaches at half time as the visitors came back at the home side as the second half started. Pressure by Kirkby kept Vale on the defence but some strange decisions by the referee kept Vale in the game. Errors gave the visitors advantage and a move down the centre of the field saw Club Captain Alex Briggs score, converted by Barton, Kirkby move the score to 19-12. Vale held on against the run of play and some dubious calls by the ref gave Vale an attacking move but were held on the half way line. From a ruck in their own half, Kirkby fed the ball to Nikora Brown whose pass out to Charlie Oates saw him head unchallenged to the home sides try line and under the posts, for a brilliant individual try. Dave Barton took the conversion whilst the visiting spectators held their breath and saw the ball slotted between the posts. 19-19. The final 10 minutes was all Kirkby’s but a draw as the final whistle blew seemed a fair result. Each team dominated the individual halves but Kirkby again showed spirit and pride in their Club to pull through.
Next Saturday sees a first visit by Whitchurch to Underley Park.

DJH