Match report: Kirkby Lonsdale 5 Blackpool RUFC 48

Blackpool named a mixture of new and old faces for the trip to Cumbria and recorded an excellent win.
Blackpool were convincing winners t Kirkby LonsdaleBlackpool were convincing winners t Kirkby Lonsdale
Blackpool were convincing winners t Kirkby Lonsdale

Kirkby Lonsdale 5

Blackpool RUFC 48

Blackpool named a mixture of new and old faces for the trip to Cumbria and recorded an excellent win.

They got off to a tremendous start as excellent work from Louis Shelton and Ryan Robinson carried them deep into the Kirkby half before Adam Glover offloaded for debutant Will Church to dive over the whitewash, James Carty adding the conversion.

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Blackpool extended their advantage as the ball was swept out along the backline, Alex Maddem showing fantastic pace and power to slide in at the corner.

Kirkby hit back with a try but the visitors refocused with brutal defence, typified by the efforts of Russell Woodward and Kevin Woodcock.

Strong carries from Chris Parlour and Tom Sanderson laid the foundation for Glover to brush off defenders as he powered his way over the tryline, with Carty adding the extras.

Blackpool were looking capable of scoring every time they had the ball and good work from Matthew Robinson and Luke Bennett created the platform for Antony Clark’s booming long pass to find Dave Meacham, ho made it 24-5 at the interval.

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Blackpool continued to pile on the pressure as Pete Wilkinson and Gaz Woodall carried the team into the Kirby half, allowing Clark to exploit a gap to score. Carty added his third conversion.

Robinson’s great lineout catch paved the way for a sweeping move finished by Maddem with his second try, Carty again adding the extras.

To their credit the home side attempted to fight back, but were met time and again by robust Blackpool defence. The visitors went past the 40 mark as Glover scythed through on a 60-metre break. And although the fly-half was dragged down short, the ball was quickly recycled for Maddem to complete his hat-trick.

With the final whistle approaching Blackpool, still had time for one final score as strong running from Dave Collett and Wilkinson paved the way for captain Chris Parlour to dart over for a well-earned try.

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In a fantastic team display, the man of the match award went to centre Will Church, who was an attacking threat every time he had the ball and put in some bone-crunching hits in defence, capping his fine performance with a well-deserved try.

Blackpool know they will have to perform at a similar level at home to champions Bolton this weekend.

Blackpool: Wilkinson, Bennett, M Robinson, R Robinson, Woodward, Shelton, Woodcock, Parlour, Clark, Glover, Carty, Church, Maddem, Meacham, Sanderson; reps: Woodall, Collett.