Kirkby Lonsdale.....11 Egremont.............6 THIS was a "must-win" match for Kirkby as the bottom two clubs in the North Lancs/Cumbria League met at Underley Park on Saturday.

It was touch and go that play went ahead on a quagmire of a pitch which made it very much a forward- orientated battle and one that the diagonal wind had a considerable bearing upon.

Kirkby produced some good close-quartered driving play in the opening quarters from the forwards to take play into the Egremont 22 and were rewarded when quick hands from a ruck down the blindside allowed right winger Alex Hampshire to go over at the corner for an unconverted score.

Kirkby were on top at this stage, but Egremont began to harness the wind which was blowing into the bottom left-hand corner to keep play in Kirkby's half for a spell.

Earning a penalty for handling on the ground, which the visitors' fly-half slotted over, Egremont were back in the contest and camped on the Kirkby tryline for a nerve-racking five-minute spell.

During this crucial period, Kirkby lock Richard Bainbridge made two try-save tackles as Kirkby defended superbly as a unit. Even so, the pressure eventually brought a penalty which went over to cut the gap to a single point going into the second half.

It was Kirkby's turn to use the wind and they succeeded in pegging back Egremont with some excellent pick-and-go recycling. Backs play just was not an option in the ankle-deep mud, but Kirkby plugged away to earn two penalties, one after 15 minutes and the other five minutes before the end, both converted by Mark Barton, who was returning to the side.

Kirkby's lineout went well on the day with hooker Steve Aynsley throwing accurately considering the conditions, while Simon Dowker caught cleanly.

The forwards generally had a fine day, Tim Groves at prop shining again along with Warwick Slingsby in the back row. Replacement John Law, who came on at No. 8, also made his mark.

With the exact details of the relegation issue shrouded in mystery to the average supporter, Kirkby have a rearranged game at Aldwinians, who are immediately above them in the table, and are looking to press on out of danger with matches in hand on the clubs around them.