A DUSTING of snow covered the ground but the pitch was in remarkably good condition for this make-or-break Cumbria League fixture for Kirkby.

Final score was Kirkby Lonsdale 18 - BAE Barrow 12.

Barrow did the early pressing but good tackling kept them out and with the return of Dowker, Wylder and Grayson, Kirkby looked a more balanced team than for some time.

Kirkby had the first chance of scoring but was just off target with a penalty, but the ball was soon moved left across the Kirkby backs.

With Storey coming into the line, Hadwin's quick pass gave Squires an overlap which he used to the full, sprinting 70 metres and beating the full back on the inside for an excellent unconverted try.

This stung Barrow into action but they were wide with a penalty. However, Kirkby offended again, directly in front of the posts. Expecting the prospect of a certain three points, they trooped back towards their own goal-line only for Barrow to take a quick tap and score by the posts, the conversion giving them a startling lead.

The remainder of the first half was fairly even but freezing fingers led to dropped passes and a scrappy run-up to half time.

As temperatures dipped with the fading sun in the second half, Kirkby elected to play a wider game than Barrow and seemed to have set up Squires for a scoring chance.

The final pass went behind him, but he made an amazing recovery, picking up and running infield on a weaving run. Blocked by a line of defenders at the posts, he grub kicked through and, when the ball slipped through the fingers of a Barrow player, he followed up to score the try of the season. Mallaband converted and Kirkby were back ahead.

This again roused Barrow and they put together better passing movements but were kept at bay. Storey, playing at flanker, saved one likely score when covering across for a tackle right at the corner flag.

Barrow spent considerable time on the Kirkby line but great tackling by everyone denied them and they eventually broke out.

When a Barrow passing movement faltered, Grayson hacked on into space and Gavin Thompson on the eright wing supported for an amazing pick-up to score behind the posts. Mallaband converted and Kirkby began to look safe at 19-7.

Barrow surprised them when a long kick found touch on the Kirkby 22 and the visitors found space to go over and reduce the deficit to seven points. Tightening up their game, Kirkby kept play in the visitors' half for the remainder of the match.

Another chance to score came from a lineout virtually on the visitors' line but they over-elaborated and the opportunity passed.

Mallaband put a late penalty from medium range to the left of the posts but the referee blew for full time soon afterwards.

It was an encouraging first league win but there are hard matches ahead in the search for more points.

January 10, 2003 10:31