Unbeaten Home Record Maintained & Promotion Assured

Clitheroe achieved promotion with a hard earned 35 – 17 victory at home to Preston Grasshoppers 5th team. This victory ensured that the 2nd team remained unbeaten at home all season which has been achieved through hard work and commitment and this bodes well for the future of the club.
Clitheroe were able to field a reasonably strong side with Peel and Railton returning to compliment a strong back line with the excellent Sharples at scrum half. The forward line up was boosted by Sam Thornber at 8 and return of super fit veteran Wilkinson at second row.
Games against any side from Hoppers are always tough and this proved to be no different. However Clitheroe started strongly with the forwards gaining ascendancy in the scrum thanks to the ever young Procter. Andrew Thornber had an excellent game, the benefits of a new Friday routine of abstention certainly bearing fruit! Following a well worked line out near to the Hoppers line, the excellent Sam Thornber (son of Andrew) secured the ball and charged through the gap to score under the posts. Peel ensured the extras e added and Clitheroe led 7-0 to calm the nerves.
However a few minutes later a hopeful cross field kick from the Hoppers 10 wasn’t dealt with and resulted in the ball being hacked on by their winger and the resulting chase saw the ball grounded under the home side’s posts and an easy conversion meant that the scores were level.
The game was even with both sides conceding penalties aplenty but superb running by Peel and Sharples gained the hosts territory. An excellent move with great link play between Railton and Bleasdale ensured an overlap with Hansen going over in the corner to restore Clitheroe’s lead. Hoppers replied with a penalty following yet another infringement by Dowson (pictured) only for the excellent Peel to reply with a drop goal….much to his captain’s amazement.
Then a piece of history…Following a number of phases involving Clitheroe forwards, hooker Andrew Thornber powered over from a ruck to score. Not only was the fact that he scored amazing, even more remarkable was that this was the first time in CRUFC history that both father and son had scored in the same match. Well done to both Thornbers, stalwarts of CRUFC. The extras were added by Peel and half time and the hosts were leading 22-10.
Gretton replaced the promising youngster Josh Kay on the wing and the second half continued in the same vein. The home side dominated territory but Hoppers remained dangerous with some strong running. The Clitheroe back row of Sam Thornber, Pete Farnsworth and John Norman tackled strongly, with Norman exceptional. Another young member of the team, Norman is a superb tackler and strong runner who is a huge talent has a big rugby future.
Another flowing backs move saw Bleasdale cross the line with a good finish to cap his excellent form. Wensley also had a strong game and improves each week. The score was 27-10 but Hoppers kept the pressure up by scoring a converted try with Peel adding a penalty for the hosts. This made the score 30-17.
Clitheroe continued to press and following a penalty conceded by Hoppers, a line out move by Clitheroe secured the ball well. The old partnership of Railton and Peel, with the former supplying the latter with a fast flat pass, split the defence superbly for Peel to touch down over the line.
There were no extra scores and the final result was 35-17 in a hard fought and good spirited game. Clitheroe’s spirit and determination have been the hallmarks of this season and this squad deserves their success.
A great team effort and Sharples, the Thornbers, Norman, Peel and Railton were exceptional. The returning, slimmer Wilkinson showed he has lost none of his silky skills and Caunce and Williamson take huge credit for making this squad so effective.
Man of the match must go to Richard Murray who has improved immensely this season. His scrummaging has been superb and his ball carrying has caused constant problems for the opposition. Murray has been an ever present nearly all season and has been excellent this year.
So well done to all but a strong team is needed next week away to Blackpool to carry home the championship.

(Report penned by Dowse)