Brave 14 Just Fall Short

Clitheroe's 2nd team travelled to Manchester on Saturday to play Sedgley Park 4ths under perfect conditions in which to play rugby.

The team originally had 16 players but last minute changes meant that only 14 could travel.

With no subs and payers such as Richard Few returning from injury the maroons knew it'd be a slog, especially when they arrived to a Sedgley Park team boasting the full compliment of players and subs.

The game got under way and for sometime you wouldn't have known that Clitheroe had only 14. Brilliant attacking from the centres and strong work from the pack allowed a open and exciting game. Sedgley park had the numerical advantage and eventually scored three unanswered tries in the first half only converting one.

Clitheroe responded by shear physicality. With plenty of attacking from the forwards with everyone putting 100% to the cause. After some great phase work and shear determination James Haynes dummied his way over the line for the first try leaving a wake of embarrassed defenders. This was to be the first of 3 for the welshman who showed his skill through the entire game. Nobs, Gretz, Kino and Bleasy all deserve a mention as with a missing fullback which they all opted to help cover the opposition struggled to take advantage. Some burning lungs on the field. Aaron Shread making some great runs and tackles as did Happy Pete and Will Jones. The immovable Richard Murray had a great game also. John Norman in his first thing for some months managed a great game and some brilliant tackles made him slot back in seamlessly.

The number I also advantage of Sedgley eventually saw them win 27-21 with two late second half tries after Clitheroe had put their all in and also managed to deplete their bench because of shear determination. Almost had it lads and you made a captain proud.

Report by JT