Maroons Fly To A Bonus Point Win In First Away At Eagle!

Eagle RUFC is always a challenging place to travel to as they always offer up competitive rugby a good home support. It’s fair to say that in our last flurry in the RFU leagues its somewhere we didn’t always travel well to, yesterday that wrong was righted and is a good sign of our recent progress as a club.

The Maroons travelled with a slightly changed side from previous weeks. Injuries have come thick and fast at the start of the season but our increased strength in depth allowed us to field a good side.

1st XV Skipper Will Dickenson was back in a starting jersey along with Henry Bailey, both returning from injury. We welcomed our latest signing David Hodgson joining us from Lancaster side Vale of Lune and another new face Callum Harris was back playing in the unfamiliar scrum half shirt.

Eagle started the game, kicking off to Clitheroe but the early rugby was all played by the maroons. From the kick off the hard working Clitheroe forwards patiently built up several phases to get within 10 meters of the eagle line. Some slick hands from the backs down the line saw James Dickenson go over in the corner. The tricky conversation was missed and the game was 5-0. Great start!

Despite some well structured play, the next 3 scores were all Eagles and before you could blink the score line was 15-5 to the home team. Before the referee could blow his half time whistle some great hands in the loose from Clitheroe number 8 Luke Hayton helped the half backs unleash Matt Bleasdale [pictured] who had a great game in his new number 13 shirt. Bleasdale broke a couple of tackles and gassed it from 50 meters to score under the posts. Conversation from James Dickenson was good and the score at half time was 15-12 to Eagle.

The chat at half time was positive and the lads took to the field feeling upbeat but first blood was taken by Eagle with a well worked score. The converted try making the score line 22-12, a theoretical mountain was now to climb!

Clitheroe stayed patient and stuck to the game plan, outstanding work from the forwards both in the loose and at scrum time was giving the backs a solid platform but the points didn’t come. Up stepped the hot stepper himself Michael Floyd who from the half way line handed off two defenders and skipped past two more to score a brilliant individual try making the score 22-17. The boost gave Clitheroe the momentum, a change was made bringing Struan Robertson into the back row with the reshuffle meaning war horse Rik Edmondson left the field after a brilliant hour of rugby. Another change was made with James Dickenson being replaced by new man David Hodgson coming on to the wing.

Another wide move after some excellent forwards play nearly saw Clitheroe fly half Marco Vaghetti almost dot down in the corner but he was snagged just short of the line. some very patient and unrelenting play from the forwards saw Peter Shorthouse go over from a pick and go close to the line to secure a 4th bonus point try, 22-22 and the fingernails were getting ever shorter.

Vagetti, injured in the build up to the try left the field. James Cathcart shuffled comfortably into the fly half slot and James Dickenson returned to the field. Through the last 15 minutes of the game Clitheroe made the most opportunities but failed to finish them. Some excellent line breaking runs from both forwards and backs didn’t result in any points but ensured Clitheroe kept up the momentum. The match winning try was scored by the industrious centre Rick Slinger who after a brilliant personal defensive display dotted down to seal the deal. 22-27.

With the clock running down Clitheroe looked in control of the game and looked odds on to take the spoils. With the clock dead Clitheroe earned a penalty but with a kick straight to touch under the new laws the line out would need to be competed for. Eagle disrupted the line out, regained possession and moved the ball into the Clitheroe half. A brilliant piece of back row play from veteran Darren Eagle earned the maroons another penalty. This time a tap before the kick meant the game was over, 22-27 and a big bonus point away win!

A big pat on the back has to go to the Clitheroe forwards who worked tirelessly for 80 mins and ultimately won us the game. Half back pairing Callum Harris and Marco Vaghetti gelled well to control proceedings and some excellent finishing from the backs made it a real team performance.

Next week the lads travel to Garstang in the first round of the cup.

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