Round One win sees Clitheroe to play neighbours Colne & Nelson next

Whereas the 1st XV played their first knockout competition game back in August, the 2nd XV have had to wait until this last weekend for their first taste of knock out rugby where they visited Preston Grasshoppers 6ths in the Raging Bull Plate first round. Clitheroe 2nds had already played PGH some weeks earlier and on that day they'd come off second best playing at home in one of only two defeats so far this season.

Bob Wilkinson was able to pick a strong side and the hope was that the team would be able to emulate the super performances of running rugby already shown in the past few weeks. To the delight of the great support given by the travelling Clitheroe contingent, the team didn't disappoint.

Right from the first whistle, Clitheroe took the game to PGH, tearing into rucks and moving the ball wide at every opportunity. PGH were clearly stunned and struggled to contain the effervescent maroon and golds. Scrum half Barrett was prominent as was Bartle in the centre and McEntyre at 8. It didn't take long for the first try to be notched up and it was left wing Caunce, who benefitting by some excellent interpassing and skilful offloading play by both backs and forwards, finished off with aplomb. Wilkinson followed up not long after with a try of his own after Graves burst through before delicately popping a sympathetic pass to his lumbering captain, who subsequently belly flopped over the line. No swan dives here……

PGH managed to stem the tide for the majority of the remainder of the first half until the floodgates were barged open once more, firstly by Sharples then next by centre Mark Preston, a man who's loving his return to rugby action after far too many years playing other inferior sports.

Half time saw some changes with Holland coming into the front row, try-scorers Preston making way for young tyro centre Hardy and Harry Thompson coming on to replace Chris Harper in the back row. Thompson hasn't played for the club in a year or so and he's a welcome addition to the growing younger element of the Clitheroe playing squad.

Clitheroe were all guns blazing once more as the 2nd half whistle blow and it didn't take long before McEntyre scored a deserved try of his own, especially with all the work he'd done in creating turnover ball and generally playing to his devastating best. The shine was to be rubbed off a little shortly afterwards as he suffered a small cut to his nose and had to leave the field for a time to regain his bearings. Graves scored Clitheroe's 6th and final try around the 50 minute mark after taking a quick tap, not for the first time in the game. The game ground to a bit of stalemate throughout the 2nd half however, Preston did continue to pluck away and took their chance of a try well in the dying minutes.

Overall, it was an excellent knockout win for Clitheroe. Keough kept up his near 50% kicking success rate and scrum half James Barrett was excellent throughout with his sniping and probing. He was duly adjudged to be the Clitheroe man of the match by his fellow players.

After this win, Clitheroe progress to play in the next round away at Colne & Nelson on 1st December. They will have to be on their mettle in what is always a tough game up on the hill. Before then, the 2nds have a week's rest and can instead support the 1sts at home this coming Saturday when they play Pendle, kick off 14:15. This fixture is always worth watching and the England vs Australia game will be shown straight after the game in the clubhouse. Come and enjoy a rugby Saturday at Clitheroe Rugby Club.