Leigh 6-21 Kirkby Lonsdale

The home side took the lead with an early penalty and extended this to 6-0 with a second penalty whilst they had a man advantage when Kirkby left wing, Josh Maddocks, was yellow carded for a late tackle on his opposite number.

Battle swung back and forth as the half progressed with each side struggling in the conditions although Kirkby did miss a penalty on the stroke of half-time which meant the teams changed round at the end of a dour first half with the score still at 6-0.

Kirkby applied the pressure in the second half and second row Leandro Kwiczor powered over for a try, converted by Tom Pickthall.

Leigh remained under the cosh as Kirkby were adjudged held up again but, as before, the pressure from the scrum told when this time back row Lwazi Ngcungama was unstoppable from close range for the second try, again converted by Pickthall to extend Kirkby’s lead to 14-6 after 28 minutes of the half.

Playing conditions were now very poor and the ball very difficult to control or hold and as one scrum descended into a shambles the ball, somehow, flew out and over the try line.

Back row Ngcungama was quickest to react and dive on it. The referee signalled for a try, the forward’s second and Kirkby’s third on the day.

Again Pickthall converted to stretch Kirkby out to 21-6 in front and secure the win.