Clitheroe stay top after hard fought victory

Clitheroe have hit good form following the split of the league and remain unbeaten.

On a wet and muddy surface at Littlemoor they hosted second placed Prenton in a tough encounter. The visitors have similar club colours and the hosts donned the blue strip to avoid confusion...but with the mud it could have all been academic.

The game kicked off and it was Prenton who took the fight to Clitheroe...quite literally in one case with yellow cards being dished out to the visitors for violent transgressions.

Once the game settled down this was a well matched contest between two in form teams. Clitheroe probed the visitors defence and the ever young Darren Eagle scored off the back of a maul to give the hosts the lead. Jonny Cuddy added the extras and it was no more than Clitheroe deserved.
Prenton however are made of strong stuff and came back into the game with a score of their own which they failed to convert.

Clitheroe responded with a second score with the returning Callum Harris scoring from 15 metres out off a move from a maul. Again the reliable Cuddy added the extras and Clitheroe were in the lead by 14 points to 5. The visitors replied with a penalty to leave the score at 14 - 8 at half time.

The visitors discipline let them down on occasion with them receiving a red card and two yellows during a feisty first half.

Nathan Peel replaced the energetic Richard Few at scrum half and Clitheroe came out determined to press home their advantage. The pack functioned well with Ben Graves, Captain Will Dickenson and James Pate very solid.Kirk Kenyon was ever reliable in the engine room and veteran Andrew Rigby had an excellent game.

Clitheroe pressed on and following good work by Marco Vaghetti and Ricardo Slinger, James ‘Bicky’ Dickenson found space to finish from 30 metres in the corner. Unbelievably Cuddy didn’t add the extras..he doesn’t miss many at all so an unwanted collectors item!

Prenton who were excellent in defence continued to press and scored a converted try to make the score 19 - 15. This was a close game in difficult conditions but this Clitheroe side has character in abundance and has rediscovered its confidence.

Dickenson made another line break, Slinger supported well and took the ball on and the ball was popped to the excellent Pate (pictured) who crashed over the line. Cuddy added the extras plus a penalty to leave the final score 29 - 15 to the men from Littlemoor.

The back line defended well with James Cathcart,Milke Floyd and Vaghetti in good form. The back row of Peter Shorthouse and Dickenson N we’re everywhere and Chris Stewart and Adam Penney brought their class and experience to the fray.

Excellent performances from all in blue...especially Rigby and Slinger...but the real credit goes to the whole squad for a great victory against tough opponents in difficult conditions.

Clitheroe are on a roll....player availability is good..this team can do well if this remains the case. It’s as simple as that.

Report by SD