Kirkby Lonsdale conquer Carlisle
By Leipziger
December 6 2014
A lot of us will think that Kingston Park in the winter is the coldest place on Earth. After visiting the vast expanse of Underley Park in freezing temperatures this afternoon however, I can tell you that KP isn’t even the coldest rugby ground in the North of England.
With no protection from the elements – the one stand probably holds about fifty people at most – and another pitch between you and the clubhouse, it was a day for the hardiest of rural Cumbrians. And me, of course. Mercifully there was little wind.
The low temperature and greasy pitch made for an attritional but intriguing battle between Kirkby Lonsdale, still second in the league despite last week’s derby defeat at Kendal, and their county rivals from Carlisle, who sit comfortably in mid-table.
When you get to the entrance of Underley Park, you pay your money then drive (or, in my case, walk) a bit of a way to the clubhouse, past a pitch that makes Bedford’s look flat, and as I say there is another pitch before you get to the first team field, beside which the hot drinks van would have done a good trade today I expect.
I was glad of a glass of hot cider in the bar before heading out into the South Lakeland cold. (Sorry, just wanted to make sure you know it wasn’t tropical!) The poor sheep in the field behind the stand would have to just make do with their wool and hope for the best.
Match report can be found here.
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Quote:...past a pitch that makes Bedford’s look flat...
On our way to Kyle of Lochalsh we pass Loch Duich Primary School. Their pitch is hilarious, literally on a hill, and quite a steep hill at that. Somebody has mowed a rectangle of grass on the hill & put goal posts at each end. The poor kids must grow up with a weird idea of what sport is all about.