Mission nearly accomplished after hard fought victory

Clitheroe 2nds visited Chorley in their quest for promotion, knowing that a victory would see them all but assured of promotion. Clitheroe fielded a different looking back line following injury and unavailability, with Bartle returning to the fold at stand-off. The pack remained reasonably unchanged and though Clitheroe had won the home match against these opponents they knew that this would be an altogether different proposition.
And so it proved to be. The visitors elected to utilise the wind in the first half and from the kick off the men from Littlemoor started brightly, with the forwards making ground in the initial stages. The Chorley tackling was fierce and the visitors spent a large proportion of the first period in the hosts half but failed to get the scoreboard moving. Clitheroe soon asserted their superiority in the set piece with Jackson taking two against the head but following injury the scrums went to uncontested.
The game developed into a keenly fought but scrappy affair with defence winning the day. Clitheroe pressed the Chorley line and following an infringement a penalty was awarded in front of the posts. Craig Procter duly slotted home and the visitors led 3-0. Clitheroe also dominated the line outs, winning their own ball and disrupting the home sides with Michael Thornber having his usual excellent game. However the forwards were winning plenty of ball through H. Procter and Smith but a combination of the conditions and some big hits from the Chorley defence ensured the try line was not breached. The visitors were further disrupted when Jackson had to leave the field with a nose injury, no doubt disappointed not to repeat his try scoring feat of two weeks previous, and Cowgill entered the fray and showed what a quality player he can be.
Eventually the pressure told when the forwards went through a couple of phases, the ball was delivered to the back line by the superb Sturgess and Craig Procter popped up for a great finish after Bartle’s pass. The try scorer converted and Clitheroe went into the break 10-0 in the lead.
A further reshuffle at the break saw the evergreen Procter senior being replaced by the livewire Firth, who immediately threw himself into the fray. The second half started with a role reversal and it was Chorley with all the play and territory. Clitheroe defended excellently, repelling wave after wave of attack with Chamberlain excellent and A Thornber instrumental in marshalling the defence and leading by example.
However the hosts got themselves right back into it with the strong scrum half finishing well under the posts and Dawson converted to make the score 10-7 to the visitors. The game was on a knife edge but strong running from Preston and Bleasdale gained the visitors some valuable territory and following a conceded penalty, Craig Procter converted to give Clitheroe some breathing space.
And how they needed it. Chorley used the wind well to put the Clitheroe back three, Gretton, Caunce and Podeyn, under lots of pressure. All three stood up magnificently, tackling their hearts out as Chorley threw everything at the visitors.
This season has seen this team defend very well and today proved no exception. Clitheroe hung on for an invaluable but extremely close victory. Massive credit to Chorley who gave their all in conditions that were difficult and good luck to them in their remaining games.
Clitheroe are next back in action in two weeks, away at Preston Grasshoppers, where a victory will assure them of promotion, unless Burnley beat Blackpool this Saturday and it’s all over anyway.
New players and supporters always welcome!