Carnforth Too Fast

Clitheroe 1st XV entertained old friends Carnforth at Littlemoor on Saturday looking to get back on the winning trail. With Captain Oliver McEntyre on the injury list, it was Nathan Peel who led the team out onto the hallowed Littlemoor turf come kick off time.
Carnforth started directly and demonstrated exactly why they are the form team in the league at present with hard running and straight lines which while predicable the Littlemooor men found hard to defend against and after 15 minutes the home team found themselves 3 tries down and with a further 10 minutes gone a further try was leaked in and already Clitheroe we staring at a mountain to climb at 26 points to nil. However, finally the Maroon & Gold rallied to the cause and the tries began to come with clean catch at the line out from Rigby set the ruck, second phase ball was taken on by Sam Thornber who broke the gain line and the ball was spun out from the ruck to give the backline the chance to execute a well work move with full back Chris Waddington marking his return to 1st XV rugby by squeezing between the posts for a score – Fitzhenry took the conversion and suddenly it was Carnforth who were on the back foot as Clitheroe tried to wrench the advantage of the game from them. However, it was Carnforth who struck next with a ball taken against the head near the Clitheroe line and dotted down to score. At half time the score had an uneven look to it at 7 – 31 and Clitheroe had to listen to some stern words during the break.
From the re-start, prop Atkinson picked and cut a dash from the ruck to score an excellent individual try which was also converted, while Carnforth added another out wide after winning good turnover ball from the home team and the score ticked over to 14 – 36.
Clitheroe renewed their pressure and after a misunderstanding in the Carnforth defence Sam Thornber dived on the ball over the line to score and suddenly there was a belief in the home town team that time was not running out and with the right pressure they could work their way back into the match. Sadly Carnforth attacked again and eventually after some confusion a try was awarded to them in the corner, one which the home players begrudgingly accepted and the score moved on to 19 – 41 and the game had stretched beyond Clitheroe. However, it was the home team who finished the match best and suitably it was Aaron Dixon who was rewarded for all his hard work throughout the 80 minutes as he pounced on a grubber kick as it skittled through the Carnforth defensive line and gave the final score of 26 – 41.
There was a lot to encourage the Littlemoor faithful and definite sparks of a return to form which can be carried forward into next week’s away game at Crosby St Mary’s. As ever the Carnforth boys were good company in the bar after the game and the return fixture is keenly waited.

by OMcE