Tricky start for Clitheroe 1sts in 2N

Clitheroe 1st XV started the league season away at Ormskirk after a league reorganisation which saw the Maroon & Gold promoted and a tougher season lies in wait.

The team started with a squad which resembled last season, but with one or two different faces taking up a starting position – shrinking violet Jim Smith getting the call into the front row after some eye catching performances in the 2nd XV last season and good work and attitude through pre-season training and Simon Gretton on the wing who is no stranger to the 1st XV but had not been a regular fixture last season. Starting with enthusiasm it was as ever old stager Ralph Rigby baldly leading an aggressive defence and scrum half Smith linking the forwards and back line as effectively as ever. After absorbing an opening 10 minutes of pressure from Ormskirk, it was Clitheroe on the attack as they pressed the opposition try line as the Ormskirk defence had little answer but to offend to slow the ball down to prevent a score. Before long the referee’s patience snapped and one of the Ormskirk forwards found himself having 10 minutes in the sin bin to cool off.

With the ascendancy numerically, Clitheroe maximised with a well worked backline move after the forwards provide good quality ball, passing down the line it was James Dickinson who burst through to touchdown in the corner. As the Maroon & Gold tried to press home their extra man advantage again the Ormskirk forwards killed the ball with the referee seemingly going for the pocket again but appeared to have a second view and allowed the Ormskirk No 8 to stay on the pitch. When the numbers evened up, Ormskirk had some good moments of pressure and pressed down the pitch with a series of backline moves, eventually their smart looking centre crossed the line only to apparently drop the ball – the referee was unsighted and awarded the try to level the scores at 5 – 5.

Before half time Rigby took what looked an innocuous light blow to the head, but the resulting injury ended his game as he was whisked to the local A & E for 5 stitches in his vast forehead in what turned out to be a nasty looking head wound. Penny took his place and Thornber moved to the flank from hooker to accommodate the changes, there was a further injury scare to stand off Watson as he also took a blow to the head. With the Maroon & Gold in slight disarray Ormskirk capitalised and scored again before half time to move the score on to 12 – 5 at the turn round.

Ormskirk also dominated the opening 20 minutes of the second half and scored two more tries and converted one through a very rapid looking outside centre/wing paring. With a little feisty niggle creeping into the match Clitheroe seemed motivated by perceived injustices and mounted an attack into the opposition 22 metre area lead by old stagers Holmes & Thornber ably aided by debutant prop Jim Smith along with the rest of the forwards and there they camped for the closing 20 minutes of the game with attempts to cross the line stifled by some very negative play by Ormskirk who killed the ball repeatedly, finally the referee took action and after awarding penalties running into double figures sent the Ormskirk hooker to the sin bin, but it was too little too late and the match ended in a frustrating manner for the Clitheroe team.

It was a typical first match of the season, lots to like and some good individual performances but still plenty to work on at training. While a tougher season awaits, Clitheroe demonstrated enough to give both coach and Captain great hope for the season ahead.