Understrength Clitheroe Battle in Vain

With an injury list as long as the proverbial arm, Clitheroe had to renege on the 2nd XV fixture away to Burnley and put together a compact squad to travel to the flatlands of outer Merseyside to play Crosby St Marys on a good dry flat pitch but whilst the day was clear there as a bitter wind blowing from the west.
Giz Williams made his 1st XV debut in the second row as did Mark Fisher at outside centre, both played hard, tight rugby and were both key players as the game progressed. Opening exchanges were virtually all Clitheroe as the fired up team foraged in the Crosby half – however, they failed to convert the pressure into points, a factor that would have an effect on the end result. Still with Clitheroe in the ascendancy it was Crosby who scored first with a try after a mix up in defence which left them a converted try ahead, 7 – 0.
Clitheroe battled well into the final 10 minutes of the first half, both teams opting to kick at goal with awarded penalties but with the cross wind both were pushed wide. Clearly the heat of the battle was beginning to tell and the encounter was becoming more and more feisty, Clitheroe finished the half with only 14 men as lock Farnsworth was penalised for loose, if not malicious, feet in the ruck. However, his teammates battled well to finish the half just 7 points down.
At half time, Farnsworth made way for another 1st XV debutant Lewis Williams, who slotted into the second row alongside his father. With the lineout functioning well and much catch and drive ball being speared into the Crosby half it was again the Maroon & Gold who started in the ascendancy. Good pressure refused to give way to points and perhaps the Clitheroe men were unlucky not to have more penalties awarded as the Crosby defenders were right on the edge of the ruck laws at times when Maroon & Gold shirts went for the final push in the 22 metre area. Clitheroe played to their strengths, using the hulking frame of Lewis Williams to provide driving balls
Crosby scored next with a try which seemed to be borne from confusion as the touch judge’s flag first went up then down again rapidly as Crosby played on they scored in the corner and went into a 12 – 0 lead. The clock was ticking down and with 20 minutes left, the Crosby defence was beginning to tire and Clitheroe sniffed a chance to take some points and eek their way back into the match. Crosby saw red next with a cynical punch to Clitheroe 10 Fitzhenry seeing the home team pack reduced to 7, Fitzhenry show little ill affect, as he slotted the penalty to get Clitheroe on the score board. Crosby scored another try to take their tally to 19, while Clitheroe rallied valiantly to chase the game into the final few minutes. Lewis Williams leading the charge from a succession of home team penalties as the desperately defended their line.
Eventually it was from the set piece which Clitheroe scored against a team which does exceptionally well at home. A set scrum move saw Ralph Rigby pop the ball to Peel at scrum half who committed the defender and threw a well timed pass to wing man Gretton who greedily devoured his chance to score in the corner. Again Clitheroe rallied to chase more points but the as the final whistle went it was the home team who ran out winners 19 – 8. A close game and the hosts shading yet another home win, but there was again an improvement in the performance which the squad can take to their next game, a cup match away to Newton le Willows.

by O.McE