Raging Bull Plate Rd 1

Clitheroe Cavaliers maintained their unbeaten home run in an excellent victory in the Raging Bull Plate Competition.
Winning the toss Captain Windy Rawstron chose to play 'uphill' in the first half knowing that this would give the team a slight advantage in the second half when legs were tired.
The game got underway in spectacular fashion with the home team really taking the play to the opposition. Both forwards and backs interlinked well and passed ball around with gay abandon despite the awful wet conditions.
The visitors seemed alittle shell shocked at the style of play which was attacking them. A well worked passage of forward play resulted in back row player Sam Thornber scoring the first of his 4 tries in what was a man of the match performance. Bill Thatcher was on form to take the conversion, one of 5 which he ably scored in the match.
Within 10 minutes Thornber was in the thick of it again with ball passed through the deft hands of scrum half Ben Rigby he managed to beat the defence to touch down.
The home team weren't finished with a strong maul being created close to the try line veteran hooker Roger 'George Clooney' Holmes managed to amble over the try line.
The team thought they had the game in the bag but the plucky Fleetwood team had other ideas. They camped in the home 22 for the last 15 minutes of the half and scored a well deserved try following some severe pressure.
The Captain at half time reinforced the message that the team had to switch on with their rugby brains and not make stupid decisions in their own 22. He asked that they play the second half in the opposition territory and return to the sparkling rugby that was being played earlier on the match.
The team didn't disapoint. Mick Rowley making his debute appearance of the season was in sparkling form with well weighted kicks placing the visitors deep into their half. Backs Keough and Fairhurst followed up with gusto putting the receiving player under severe pressure. Tries were created during this period for Thornber, Brian Wood and ever youthfull Adrian Oldroyd. By this time the game was really won but it didn't stop Fleetwood scoring a try on the final whistle.
In all a really good game to blow off the cobwebs from the downtime created by the poor weather. It was great to see Geoff Williamson at over 50 bulldozing his way with ball in hand down the touchline. Well done big man. Equally as pleasing to see Johnny Walker getting his first full start on the wing; it won't be long before he's scoring tries with his blistering pace.

By S.R.