A LATE inteception try by Andy Hind kept Kirkby Lonsdale's noses ahead in a hard-fought Powergen Vase tie, which sees them move into the competition's last 32.

Although Whitehaven came back in injury time with a converted try, the final whistle went immediately after the kick, leaving them four points adrift.

On a fine, wintry day, Kirkby played into the wind blowing straight down the pitch in the first half, but set off strongly.

Kicking a penalty to the corner, Wylder drove for the tryline from the lineout but was held up just short and play swung to the other end where only a vital tackle from Mallaband stopped Lancaster from scoring.

Whitehaven's tactics were clearly to slow things down whenever they could and they were penalised for it, but while the aim of Hind's kick was true it fell short in the wind.

As the forward play became increasingly heated Wylder was yellow-carded for retaliation, but Kirkby continued to press and only a last-ditch tackle denied Barton a score by the posts.

Numbers were evened up when Whitehaven had Charlton yellow-carded for killing ball and this time Hind slotted the penalty to put the first points on the board.

The lead did not last long for Kirkby were penalised themselves in their own 22 and the visitors levelled the scores.

Both sides had a very good defence in a close match but Whitehaven then found themselves reduced to 13 men after another yellow card, but Kirkby could not capitalise before half time.

From the restart Kirkby put a penalty to the corner and Slingsby went close from the lineout drive but Whitehaven again managed to clear their lines.

However, Kirkby gained consolation with a successful penalty kick to take a 6-3 lead.

Whitehaven's driving maul looked threatening but Barton's long kick relieved the threat, and more spoiling by their opponents earned Kirkby two further penalty chances which extended the lead to 12-3.

Barton became the next recipient of the yellow-card, which led Hadwin - struggling after an earlier knock - moving to stand-off and Hind to scrum-half.

Whitehaven got their act together, however, and swept the ball out to the right wing for Blaney to score the try in the corner.

Although the conversion failed, Whitehaven were back in the hunt and stretched the home defence to almost breaking-point until Hind struck with his interception try and added the extras.

Whitehaven responded with a try going in injury time - although there was a doubt over whether the ball was grounded properly - but the match ended straight after the successful conversion.