St Benedict's 22-Kirkby Lonsdale 3...

MEMORIES of a poor pitch and changing facilities were on Kirkby's mind as they travelled to Whitehaven, but on arrival they discovered a brand-new clubhouse and a greatly improved playing surface.

Kirkby set off confidently as the sides sounded each other out until Kirkby pressure saw Benedict's go offside and Barton kicked the penalty for an early lead.

Kirkby relaxed and Benedict's drove upfield to be awarded an almost identical penalty, which Wood put over to level the scores.

The exchanges remained fairly even but then a Benedict's penalty took play into the Kirkby 22 and quick ball enabled Wood to break and find Smith who scored in the corner.

From wide out, Wood's conversion hit the posts and bounced out and there was no further score before half time.

Using the wind at their backs in the second half, Benedict's kicked long to move play from one 22 to the other and set up some good scoring positions.

Following a short penalty near the Kirkby line, Benedict's got the ball to Wood, recently returned from playing with Whitehaven's Rugby League squad, and he showed great class to score a good try under the post, the conversion stretching the lead to 15 points.

After Kirkby's Horsfall received a yellow card, Benedict's kept play in the 22 and worked another converted try.

Kirkby were getting slow possession and their scrum was regularly wheeled, but for the last 20 minutes they lifted their game and went close to scoring several times without managing to cross the line.

In the dying seconds a long clearance looked to have given Benedict's a try, but G. Thompson got back to slide the ball over the dead-ball line.

Kirkby will have to concentrate on quicker possession to improve their record.