DESPITE the good conditions North West Division One leaders Kirkby set off in a diffident manner, possibly due to an enjoyable club dinner the previous Thursday.

Even so Kirkby had most of the early play with Barton making several strong runs at the opposition until a collision with a prop gave him concussion and he had to be ambulanced to hospital.

Tom Pickthall moved to stand-off and Thorson came into the centre.

While Kirkby were sorting themselves out, Bury attacked through the centre and Marshall scored a good try near the posts, Robinson converting.

Bury had a powerful pack and were causing problems, but despite this the Kirkby forwards seemed determined to take them on rather than run them around.

At last Kirkby put a good move together, getting the ball to right wing Hinde, who ran strongly to score midway out. Mallaband's kick was just wide but the score raised Kirkby's spirits and just before half-time Pickthall broke through and was tackled just short of the line.

Almost from the kick-off Bury startled Kirkby with their pace and broke through the centre as Jones came up from full back to take the final pass and score. This time the conversion failed.

Kirkby at last started applying some continual pressure, but when captain Shepherd complained over zealously about the opposing team's delaying tactics he got a yellow card.

This galvanised Kirkby and they swung the ball out to Walker on the left wing, who beat two men on the outside then cut inside the fullback to score a superb individual try. Mallaband converted to level the scores at 12-12.

From a scrum near the middle of the field Storey got the ball to Pickthall and then looped around to take the return pass and put Hinde away to run in at the corner for an unconverted try.

Bury then battered away at the Kirkby line and it seemed inevitable they must score, but the forwards again showed their defensive qualities with Dowker and Boyd doing a lot of hard work before Storey made a good clearing kick.

The Kirkby forwards now turned the tables on the slowing opposition and looked as if they would score a pushover try, but eventually the ball moved across the field and prop Holmes, in his favoured outside centre position, picked up a loose ball and shot between two defenders to score midway out. The conversion attempt just curled outside the right hand post but Kirkby had a winning margin.

n Wanderers entertained Wigan at Underley Park and, despite having beaten them away 70-3, a weakened home side lost an acrimonious game 10-3.