Clitheroe narrowly edged out by experienced Aspull side in thoroughly entertaining game

New 2nd team captain, John 'Harry' Procter found his side with an uphill battle from the start of this, their first league game of the season in League 5 North, as a number of players being unavailable meant he had a much depleted player base from which to select. Nevertheless, youth was blended with some experienced players to eventually make a side of 15 only minutes before the game was due to start.

Aspull brought a similar mixture of players and based on last season's results and Procter's preparations the gathered speccies might have thought a long day lay ahead for the home team but how wrong they would have been! Within 20 minutes, Clitheroe had raced into a 15-0 following a try, conversion and penalty from ex-Colt Jack McKenna and a try from Ben Rigby.

Clitheroe had started so well, keeping the ball moving wide at every opportunity and ensuring the bulky Aspull forwards were starved of possession. James 'Baz' Barratt was directing operations brilliantly from fly half and his work led to both the initial penalty that McKenna took with aplomb and the same players try a few minutes later following a great charge down. The other player to get in on the scoring was centre Ben Rigby who anticipated well in midfield to intercept and scamper 30yds to the try line.

The home side's dominance was about the slide as Aspull backs got hold of some ball and shipped it wide very effectively. A couple of close refereeing decisions in Aspull's favour helped their cause, especially when the excellent winger Capstick was harshly adjudged to have turned the ball over illegally and in the matter of 10 minutes they had hit back with two tries of their own to take the game to 15-12 to Clitheroe.

The highlight of the match was then to follow. Aspull attempt to relieve pressure by booting the ball deep into Clitheroe's half. Capstick picked up a bouncing ball in his win 22 and immediately set off down the left wing. He evaded some despairing dives and found himself with support either side. Capstick used this support as an ideal foil as he executed a couple of excellent shimmies past hapless defenders to scorch a full 80yds to dot down under the posts. Simply exhilarating!!

Aspull then applied pressure to try and get back into the game and with half time beckoning and a Clitheroe scrum on their own line, this was time for them to pounce and pounce they did. The ball squirted out of the scrum directly to the Aspull scrum half who couldn't believe his luck and he darted over from short range and took the score to 20-17 to Clitheroe.

There were still a few minutes of the half remaining and Capstick again marauded upfield only this time to be stopped illegally. An Aspull player was rightly sin-binned for a cynical elbow onto the winger's head as he lay prone. Luckily Capstick was unaffected by this thuggery and got up without an issue.

After the half time break, Clitheroe started off just as they has commenced the game, but now had the man advantage, and young prop Frankie Carroll was stopped just short of line after a blistering run down the left wing. However, on 55 minutes the game swung back towards the visitors as they scored a converted try to take the lead for the first time in the game. The sin-binning of a player from either side didn't really help the flow of the game and Clitheroe were now having to force the play. Luckily for them Aspull were also doing the same and as Clitheroe were defending on their own 22 the ball popped forward to Rigby who once again made something out of nothing. This time he scooped the ball up and sprinted 70 yards to score under the posts. The lead was back in Clitheroe's hands but only for 2 minutes as the Aspull stand off showed a clean pair of heels and a none-too-shabby sidestep to score out on the left.

The final 10 minutes were equally frenetic and although Clitheroe threatened the Aspull line briefly and had a couple of small chances, Aspull were perhaps too experienced to let this game out of their grasp and they held on to win by 31-27. It was a fantastic game to watch and skipper Procter was very proud of his charges as he passed on words of encouragement after the final whistle had blown.

It's great to see how the club is benefitting from the influx of some talented youngsters and with stalwarts like Geoff Williamson, Brian Wood and Andy Caunce adding to the mix, this Clitheroe 2nd XV could be in for a good season and good luck to Harry and his players. Also, good luck to the young lads now off the University and we hope they continue to come back to wear the Maroon and Gold whenever they can.