Rossendale do the Double

Clitheroe Cavaliers were looking to overturn an early season narrow defeat against Rossendale 3rds. They knew that Rossendale would travel with a squad of 'old, wise' heads and tactically they would have to use the legs and pace of the youngsters in the Cavaliers outfit to overturn their foes.
Captain Simon Rawstron welcomed four new, fresh faces to the team which brought the average age down by a decade; Linden Ross, Harry Thompson, Craig Holland and Leeban Clemmey all stepped up manfully to the task.
The game started as expected with Rossendale keeping the ball tight. Only a series of bone crunching tackles stopped them getting over the line. Against the run of play Clitheroe managed to get the ball down the back line and the Clitheroe speedsters got to work with Ed Rigby touching down in the corner to score the first points. This was exactly the tactics which they needed to play, the question was whether they could sustain it for the rest of the game.
This question was answered in the next 60 minutes when Rossendale who knew they couldn't keep up with this pace returned to their game plan and stuck ball up their shirts to rumble it around the park. The Clitheroe pack on this outing despite their efforts were unable to make a dent against their tight style of play. Having sent the scrums cornerstone, Harry Proctor to the 1sts to cover their front row shortage the Cavaliers front row was made up of skipper who was recovering from knee and shoulder injury, Geoff Williamson returning from knee problems and hooker Roger Holmes with his dodgy pegs. The front row at over 130 years between them looked like extras from casuality! However, such is the comittment of the players to ensure the scrums were kept contested. Unfortunately, though on this watch they had the will and desire but not the legs (excuse the pun) to match the Rossendale eight.
The scoreline understates the defensive effort made by the home team with some excellent tackles made by Thai boy Keough, new boys Ross & Thompson and playing out of position 'flanker in the making' Bleasdale.
Before half time Clitheroe managed to snaffle some quick ball at a ruck and made their way up field. A penalty given by the referee saw Pete Farnsworth take a quick one which led to bulky Keough barging his way over from close quarters. This put the game right back in the melting pot.
The second half saw much of the same for Rossendale who stamped their authority on an already forward dominated game. Clitheroe had to go uncontested in the scrum due to injury to Williamson and Rawstron; despite Rossendale sportingly offering coverage.
The game was pretty much wrapped up but the Clitheroe Cavaliers never gave up. A quick ball from Gretton playing at flyhalf ended up in the hands of Clemmey who outpaced the defence to give the final score of the day.
Whilst the home team lost the Captain was delighted with the performance. Particularly the new guys efforts who all had an exceptional inaugral game, the efforts of individuals playing out of position and the efforts of individuals who shouldn't have been on the pitch but who did 'their bit' for the Club to ensure the game was played. Mr Wilkinson one of many who obliged in this regard.
Next week see the Cavaliers play in the 3rd round of the Raging Bull plate v Aldwinnians 4th team.

by S.R.