1sts Let It Slip

A much improved battling performance by the town team, but still they came up just short in a compelling error strewed game at Littlemoor.
Didsbury based side Old Bedians were the visitors, to face the best of Ribble Valley weather that had left the pitch sodden underfoot and would leave quality handling moves at a premium.
Clitheroe skipper Ollie McEntyre was able to welcome back mammoth tight head Jim Smith to the pack and also include young tyro Ed Rigby on the bench primed for an impact task.
The rain had eased slightly at kick off but it was the visitors who were quickest to adapt to the wet conditions. Using their 8-9-10 axis to good effect they made large inroads to home territory and only some desperate defending kept the try line intact.
But however they couldn’t resist conceding penalties in kickable range; this was ultimately to prove their downfall. By the half hour mark Bedians had slotted two and things were looking grim as Clitheroe just couldn’t get into the game.
However after absorbing the Bedians onslaught Clitheroe at last broke out of defence and played some powerful direct rugby in the Bedians half.
A series of driving mauls on the left dragged in the defence leaving the right hand side wide open. Canny fly half Dave Watson spotted the opportunity and launched the threequarters. Outside centre Nathan Peel cut an excellent angle to burst through and slide in, rather theatrically, from five metres out. The conversion slipped wide but at the turnaround Clitheroe were only 5-6 down.
Clitheroe now with scent of victory came out firing and soon had the visitors back peddling. Pick and drives from the big units up front, Aaron Atkinson, Steve Dowson and Ross Chamberlain in the thick of it, caused Bedians to concede a penalty. Martin Lafranceschina coolly converted to put the home side 8-6 ahead.
Now Clitheroe seemed to have the whip hand over Bedians and had them camped down in their own 22 for an extended period, but crucially could not add to their points tally.
Bedes eventually broke out and suddenly there was pressure on Clitheroe – the result - another penalty: 8-9 to the visitors.
With the clock running down Clitheroe instigated another all out attack and in desperation Bedes transgressed. Up stepped Man of the Match Lanfranceschina again to steal the points back again: 11-9 to Clitheroe with five minutes to go.
A mix up in the home defence whilst attempting to clear their lines gave Bedians field position and when Clitheroe yet again fell foul of the referee’s whistle, Bedains retook the lead and with it the game.
A frustrating end to the game for the town team, whist the attitude and work rate were outstanding and of a different class from the previous week, there is still plenty to ponder for the team and coaching staff during the week.