Kirkby’s Grand Finale . . .

Underley Park welcomed Crewe and Nantwich RUFC on Saturday in their first visit to Kirkby. This, the final game of the season was a must win situation for Kirkby to avoid relegation, and they did not disappoint. The past players lunch saw a packed Clubhouse with 170 lunches being served.
From the start of this match the crowd of 300 plus saw excitement as both teams played some good moves in attack and stout defending. The winner initially was the wind with gusts of 50 mph resulting in knock ons and kicks either coming back to the kicker or blowing out of play. This was the situation until an attack by Kirkby took them to 10 yards out and the pack did the business with a drive over try adjacent to the posts. Dan Reid emerged with the ball and Ryan Terry slotted the conversion to give the home side the lead after 20 minutes. Time marched towards half time and a scrappy period led to a yellow card for Bradshaw as the visitors’ forwards attacked. Minutes later, from a scrum, Cooper-Dunn and Crewe’s number 8 had an altercation and both received yellows. Almost on half time Kirkby attacked down the middle of the park and were awarded a penalty which Terry dissected the posts to give the half time score 10-0.
Crewe and Nantwich started the second half in an attacking mood and within 5 minutes their number 12 intercepted the ball on the half line and his speed saw their first try of the match. 10-5. The 15 men of Kirkby still wanted the win and attacked the fiercely defending visitors, drawing a penalty and Terry increase the lead to 13-5 with 30 minutes of the game remaining. Captain Briggs led by example taking the game by the scruff of the neck and took his forwards towards the try line after a 50-22 line out. Over they went and a deserved try by Captain Alex took the score to 18-5. 15 minutes later the Kirkby pack did it again and this time Will Baines emerged with the ball but the wind pushed the ball the wrong side of the post. 23-5. The home supporters were now looking for the bonus point try and lifted their team as play entered the final 10 minutes. The visitors were now looking dejected as the forwards rumbled back up field heading for their fourth try. Tying up the visitors defence in one corner, Sam Nicholson switched play along the backs with the final pass to Harry Ralston who dived over in the corner for his team’s bonus point try. Welcome back Harry. With 5 minutes to go Crewe and Nantwich were not lying down and moved the ball to the Kirkby line. The defence held but a tackle by Bradshaw off the ball gave a penalty in front of the posts. Rewarded by another yellow card, Bradshaw walked off, as the referee Mr Lacey turned it to a red. He then had the final play of the game as he awarded a penalty try and then whistled for time. 28-12. An elated home team received the applause of their spectators in what has been a difficult season but passion and determination for their Club has been rewarded by 12 points in their final 3 games against the top teams in the league. Congratulations must go to James Hadwin, Tim Groves and their team in coaching these players, which has paid off in these final games of the season.
Signing off by DJH and make sure you are all back next season.