ALTRINCHAM Kersal were knocked out of the Cheshire Vase after a 38-12 home defeat to Wirral on Saturday.

The Northern Premier Division visitors started brightly and moved ahead inside the first four minutes with a try and conversion.

Kersal dug in and held off a further Wirral attack for another 20 minutes, their pack making life difficult for the visitors to break the deadlock until the 22nd minute when they eventually scored their second try, which was converted.

On 30 minutes a further try and conversion made it 21-0 to Wirral – the scoreline not reflecting the combined team effort put in by Kersal.

They finally gained their just rewards in the remaining minutes of the half when they gained a foothold in the Wirral half and, aided by some penalties in their favour, advanced to five metres from the Wirral line.

A catch and well-controlled drive saw Kersal score and the try was well converted to make it 21-7 at the break.

Spurred on by the first half momentum, Kersal moved a step closer early in the second half with a well-worked try to make it 21-12.

But the resurgence in the hosts' confidence seemed to reignite Wirral's spark, as they kicked on to score a further three tries.

On Saturday, Kersal travel to Firwood Waterloo for their first North One West league fixture, kick off 3pm.