Clitheroe turn on the style

Clitheroe 1st XV hosted Littleborough for the first time in many a year at Littlemoor and they were looking to erase the sting of defeat in the close encounter at Fleetwood the previous Saturday. Littleborough have taken some noticeable scalps in league combat and a tight game was expected in near perfect rugby conditions. Maybe Clitheroe are still adjusting to the early kick offs as they looked like they had not left the changing rooms in the opening 10 minutes and let Littleborough have all the forward momentum – so much so that despite some sparks of good play from Clitheroe it was the visitors who opened the scoring with a try out wide to go 5 points in front. Within minutes it was Littleborough who scored again under the posts through their lightning quick standoff. Captain Oliver McEntyre had some straight talking for his troops while they were under the sticks, but he need not of worried as from that point on everything seemed to gel for the Maroon & Gold – Andrew Rigby claimed the re-start and the back line pressed with Peel at outside centre scything through the defence to score. Shortly after Atkinson took a crash ball from 40 yards out up the side of the ruck and proceeded to slice his way through the Littleborough backline, their final hope of stopping the attack, their full back, was completely flummoxed by his shimmying side step and Atkinson was in under the posts for a glorious score.

Shortly after the try of the match, possibly of the season so far, was scored, turnover ball was won by Cowgill in the middle of the park with the help of Ed & Mick Thornber, Andrew Thornber drove the short ball on over the gain line with Andrew Rigby darting in to make sure the ball came back on the Clitheroe side. Again the ball was taken on by the forwards through Edmondson, with fellow prop Atkinson. Then the ball was spun out by scrum half Ben Rigby to Watson who dashed forward and off loaded to Bartle at inside centre making some ground he had great vision to spin a long pass out to Smudge Smith on the wing, McEntyre took a popped pass and hit into the tackle, off loading to lock Ed Thornber who had run across the pitch into support and he crashed through the last tackler to score in fine style.

This fantastic score seemed to knock the will out of Littleborough and Clitheroe were rampant for the reminder of the first half and well into the second period. The introduction of pocket rocket Penny on for Andrew Thornber at hooker and Curphy on for Ben Rigby in the backline seemed to have little disruption to the play. The pack were dominating the open play and in close quarters – although the line out was functioning well, the set scrum was a slight problem area although it did get stronger as the game went on as the better fitness levels of the Maroon & Gold told. The backline were now firing on all cylinders and Watson was imperious in his control of the ball, along with Bartle who showed some great vision to get the ball wide to find the scores. Graves replaced Atkinson with 20 minutes to go and again it did little to disrupt the flow of the game.

Further tries followed and the scoreboard ticked on to 55 – 19 at the final whistle – for the record the scores were touched down by Peel X 3, Lafranceschina X 2, Ed Thornber, Matt Bartle, Atkinson, and rounded off by Curphey. This was easily the best performance of the season so far, with backs and forwards playing a wide and expansive game with great execution and timing. Votes on the touchline were close for the prestigious Man of the Match accolade, with Simon Cowgill just coming out on top from a whole host of other contenders.

Next week the Maroon & Gold head south to Rossendale who sit just below Clitheroe in the league but have a game in hand, while the 2nd XV entertain Cumbrian travellers Millom at Littlemoor with a 2:15 kick off for both matches.