Cavaliers Edged Out

The Cavaliers had been on the receiving end of a serious defeat when they faced Orrell earlier in the season. The Captain Windy Rawstron had earmarked this return fixture on their home turf as a must win game. When the opposition turned up with 13 players he lent them Oli Mashetter who without complaining was happy to oblige. He then warned his players to be on their guard as he knew Orrell would come out guns blazing.

The game opened up with the Orrell side showing their blistering pace of their back line. Within 5 minutes they had skirted around the home defence to score in the left hand corner. A real wake up call to the home side who had against advice started with some complacency.
However, it did the trick and the forwards started to boss the line out, mauls and scrums. They provided plenty of ball for scrum half and fly half to distribute accordingly but the back line were on the receiving end of some hard tackling which put them on the back foot and stopped them crossing the game line.
The home team then played Rugby deep in the opposition territory. From one of the Orrell line outs on their own 5 metre line the ball went stray and landed in the hands of flanker Sam Thornber who scored a cheeky try. The conversion was made by good old reliable Bill Thatcher which put the team right back in the melting pot.

Half time saw the home team slightly behind on points but they knew they were in a game and had all the work to do.
Players who entered the fray in the second half included Steven Matthews in his first senior game and a welcome return to Adam Williamson and James Dicko Dickinson. Also returning from injury was Simon Cowgill. All made an impact in the game with fresh legs and an abraisive style of play.
Orrell by this time had scored another converted try and a penalty and really were looking in the ascendancy. The home teams up hill battle continued and tactically were making in roads through their forwards. The scrum was being dominated with half a dozen taken against the head by hooker Adam Penney. From one of these scrums bulky centre Kieron Keough managed to bulldoze his way over the line; this was converted by Thatcher. With the score line at 14-15 all was looking tense for the final 15 minutes. Unfortunately the scrum advantage was taken away when the Orrell
hooker declared himself unfit to continue, with it the initiative as the Orrell back line kicked deep at every opportunity as the clock wound down.
Whilst the home team still had opportunities they were not taken and the game finished with a Cavaliers loss.

All credit to a well drilled Orrell team who played with plenty of spirit. Clitheroe were left with lots of questions which need answering on their next outing.

by SR.