Kirkby Lonsdale 25, Rossendale 3

A COOL WIND blew across the pitch, but conditions underfoot were the best for many weeks and a keen match was anticipated between these old rivals.

Kirkby looked fresh after the Christmas break and came out with a positive approach.

Although it was obvious the bigger Rossendale pack was going them some trouble, Kirkby applied continual pressure to get into the visitors' 22 and Hadwin dropped a neat drop goal for an early lead.

Rossendale came back and only superb defending, with A.

Robinson doing a great deal of hard work, kept them out and they were wide with a penalty chance.

When it was Kirkby went on the attack, the forwards and backs combined well with good passing movement to take play down into the Rossendale half.

Kirkby were wide with a kickable penalty, but some Rossendale players had foolishly moved before the ball was kicked and Hadwin made no mistake with the second attempt to increase the lead to 6-0.

Straight from the restart play moved to the other end and Rossendale threatened with several good moves.

But possibly lack of match-practice told and mistakes at crucial moments helped the Kirkby defence to ohld firm until penalised for a late tackle.

But from a kickable position, Connolly pushed the ball outside the posts.

For the rest of the first half, Kirkby pressed on the visitors' line.

Just when it seemed Rossendale would clear their lines, R.

Robinson dispossed the ball carrier and drove under the posts for a try, which Hadwin converted, as a competitive half ended with Kirkby 13-0 ahead.

Kirkby enjoyed the benefit of the breeze in the second half, but Rossendale pressed them hard and Connolly kicked a penalty for offside to put them on the scoresheet.

Almost immediately, Kirkby were awarded a kickable penalty themselves, but Hadwin's effort was well off target.

It was starting to look as if the Kirkby pack were last better.

Taking a short penalty, the ball was run to the corner and Ree drove towards the tryline before turning and slipping out a pass to prop Law, who dived over through the defenders for his first try of the season.

From wide out, Hadwin's kick sailed between the posts and Kirkby felt they had a winning margin.

However, Rossendale upped their game and centres Allan and Bridge made several runs which Atkinson and Taylor did well to close down.

Fortunately, Barton was mmaking good use of the wind with his kicks to take play downfield.

The wheeled scrum change of rule is not to everyone's liking but it favoured Kirkby on this occasion when they gained possession from it.

Quick ball saw Hawdin miss out his centre with a long pass for Barton, who fed Ruddenclau.

With little space to manoeuvre, he showed amazing pace as raced for the corner and dived past the Rossendale full back for a spectacular try.

Although the conversion failed, Kirkby now had the match in the bag.

Despite this Rossendale threw even more effort into the match.

However, good lineout work by Dowker and shrewd kicks by Storey kept them turning back and an important league win was achieved by the best all-around team display so far this season.

n After the Wanderers honoured their fixture earlier in the season at Wigton with a weakened side, they were disappointed when their opponents cancelled the return fixture late on Friday evening.