KIRKBY Londale Rugby team travelled 200 miles to face a strong Wirral team in their weekend match.

Kirkby have developed some highly effective defensive techniques this season having had plenty of practice against the leagues powerful sides who are pushing hard for promotion.

Initial resistance by Kirkby defenders was eventually overcome by persistent strong running wide out for Wirral to post and early try which was unconverted.

Kirkby responded with a lively passing move making good progress up field which was halted after an infringement by Wirral, the resulting long-range penalty was converted by Josh Ree. 

Wirral seemed to be surprised by the fact that Kirkby’s lowly league position doesn’t mean that they can’t play some really good rugby, so they modified their game plan to include more rolling mauls to gain ground by overpowering Kirkby’s lighter weight pack, scoring again to start building a steady lead.

Being a few points down did not dampen Kirkby’s determination to play inventive rugby and Wirral were stunned by a special sequence of play from Kirkby resulting in a try of the highest quality applauded by the whole crowd.

Kirkby were awarded a scrum 50 yards out.

Half Back Charlie Oats fed good quick ball to Josh Ree who orchestrated a lovely wrap around move involving Alfie Bradshaw then then Kirkby’s No 10 threw a long pass to free up Sam Peek who made a speedy 20 plus meters before getting heavily tackled but managed to still pop the ball up for Josh Ree arriving at pace to beat the last defenders to score tight in the corner.

The score stood at 31-8 at half time when Wirral further reinforced their on-field talents with even more power and pace.

Kirkby came close to scoring again on several occasions playing some really effective running rugby but the well organised Wirral defence held firm and were able to quite often able to turn defence into attack stretching Kirkby to breaking point and, in the end, racking up 64 points to Kirkby’s 8, leaving the visitors with another heavy defeat but plenty of pride in a performance which again shows so much potential and great team spirit.