Colne squeeze past

Clitheroe 1st XV made the short trip over Pendle Hill to face Colne & Nelson in a local Derby that goes back years and years. Always tightly fought and fiercely competitive, this renewal was no different and played in a strong bitter east Lancs wind with a very wet pitch which gave all the signs of a low scoring game. However, the crowd that had gathered to watch the game could not have thought the game would have only one score in it.
As ever, a low scoring game does not mean it was a dull affair – far from it. Both teams tried to run the ball from all areas of the pitch, however the late switch from the main pitch to a drier pitch didn’t seem to suit either team who were trying to play a more expansive game than the pitch allowed.
A tight first half ended with no scores, but the level of play considering the conditions we very good – for the hosts their 8, 9, 10 and full back we key in attack and defence. For Clitheroe Graves and Atkinson in the front row rampaged around the pitch while the flankers Rigby and Chamberlain won ball in defence and were aggressive going forward. In the backline Watson from scrum half orchestrated the defence while Fitzhenry at stand-off marshalled the attack and unleashed the centres of Waddington and Peel.
At the change over Clitheroe battled against the strong wind very well as Colne & Nelson launched plenty of lofted high ball in an attempt to breakdown the defences of the Maroon & Gold men. The back 3 of Kino, Beery and Railton coped with this aerial bombardment well and ran the ball back with a vengeance time and again. As the game wore on, tiredness began to creep into both teams game and after some good pressure Colne & Nelson crept into the Clitheroe half with a series of kicks and driving runs. The pressure told and Clitheroe conceded a penalty too many and the Colne kicker finally found his range and slotted the 3 points which would separate the two teams when the 80 minutes were up.
By now Penny & Smith had replaced ever youthful Holmes and Graves respectively and the fresh legs gave renewed vigour to the Clitheroe bid to snatch victory. Lock forwards Edmondson and Hough combined well down the left hand flank of the pitch and made great yards into the Colne & Nelson half both of the second rows had ball in hand twice to keep up the momentum in the move. Suddenly a last gasp victory looked a distinct possibility with Clitheroe now looking to keep the ball alive and go into the scoring zone. But a slip in the handling gave the hosts the ball and they booted it up the pitch and from the resulting lineout they chipped the ball into touch for the narrowest of victories.
Next week, both Clitheroe teams are on the road, the 1st XV go to meet Eagle while the 2nd XV make the short trip to Blackburn for another derby match.

by O.McE.