2nd XV Maintain Winning Run

With no 1st XV game this weekend and the 2's away at Kirby Lonsdale, there was no excuse to rustle up a charabanc to take the team plus supporters on a road trip to Cumbria.

Picturesque Underley Park, the home of Kirby Lonsdale RFC was the latest ground for the 2nd XV to attempt to stretch their unbeaten league record for this season.

Skipper Dave Watson was sidelined with a calf strain, so the armband crossed to robust front row man Will Jones.
There was slight consternation in who could actually play scrum half, but after passing the No 9 jersey about, it was Joe Hopkins who manfully stood up to be counted.

The old line of youth and experience could not have been truer; at one end of the scale was veteran (or is it vintage?) prop John Procter and senior citizen Simon Gretton who continues to patrol the wing and scythe down the opposition with his own indomitable style. Then at the other end there was Harry Pirraglia and Danny Ridgeway – who are just embarking on their rugby careers.

Arriving slightly late it took a while for Clitheroe to find any rhythm and get into the game. But after this shaky opening they were settled by a Mitch Jones penalty to open their account.

Then Clitheroe began to grow in confidence and after several telling thrusts down the left hand side it was to the delight of the watching officials and travelling support when that man Gretton scampered over for a try. Mitch Jones was on form with the boot for the extras.
In fact reliable kicker Mitch Jones was playing his first game for a few weeks after a broken nose, but it hadn't dented his eye for the sticks or ruined his features at all.

Even better was to come, as Clitheroe pressed again. A series of raids with forwards and backs combining well; flanker Nat Dickenson and full back Mark Jackson prominent in the attack, drew in the cover. Joe Hopkins, ever alert, spotted the space wide out and chipped a lovely cross kick for wing man Austin Wensley to scoop up in fine style to score.

So into the half time break. Time for players and supporters to rehydrate themselves in the appropriate manner.

The second stanza kicked off in fine style for the visitors when after some dazzling interplay the ball found Austin Wensley unmarked to scoot over to complete his brace.
Cue champagne on the touchline. 0-20 up what could possibly go wrong now?

Well bouyed on by the home support Kirby found their second wind and began to chip away at Clitheroe's lead.

12 -20 and Clitheroe were wilting under the pressure. Suddenly the bounce of the ball, the referee's decisions and their apparent lack of composure all went against them.

A long range Joe Hopkins penalty seemed to steady the ship, but Kirby rallied again with a try and a penalty of their own to close the gap to just three points.

Fortified by Theakstons best bitter the travelling cheerleaders willed the team on to even greater deeds.

The lads had almost run themselves to a standstill in their efforts, the likes of Richard Thornber, Andrew Caunce and Pete Farnsworth certainly left nothing on the pitch.

The clock ran down and in spite of everything the 16 Kirby players could throw at Clitheroe they stood firm.

Fittingly the final play of the game belong to the Littlemoor men. On last attack and fly half Marco Vaghetti almost nonchalantly popped over a drop goal to seal it for the maroons.

What a tremendous game. Clitheroe maintain their winning run and are handily placed second in league 5N.