First win notched up

Clitheroe 1st XV gained their first competitive won of the season away from home at Aldwinians, with a tenacious, hard-fought, narrow victory. Facing the win to start with Clitheroe looked lively and made good progress into the Aldwinians half, but after battling into a prime scoring position, turned the ball over and within seconds their hosts were barrelling down the pitch through their large centre and forging into the Maroon & Gold 22. Duly the hosts touched down and took a somewhat fortuitous 5 point lead.

Clitheroe girded their loins and from the re-start pushed into opposition territory where an Aldwinians indiscretion at the breakdown allowed Kino to slot an easy 3 points from the penalty. As the half wore on in what was a physical but fair game it was Aldwinians who pressed and pressed, eventually scoring near the posts to move their advantage to 12 – 3. Again from the re-start Clitheroe pressed and after some great support play it was Chambermaid who drew the defence and slipped the ball to Jim Smith who wasn’t taking no for an answer as he barrelled over to score his inaugural 1st XV try, the conversion just faded and Clitheroe trailed 12 – 8 at the turn round.

With a rallying team talk at half time, the Captain’s call for grit and steel was answered with a passion and Clitheroe started to gain some cleaner ball up front with some typically foraging performances from Cowgill & Holmes, while Edmondson and Thornber put some big tackles in to stop the host’s progress. The back line was now looking dangerous and the Aldwinians seemed unable to stop the forceful running of Peel and Bartle. That is not to say Aldwinians were not in the game, they pressed into the Clitheroe half at every opportunity and eventually the referee spotted something on the floor at the ruck and awarded them a penalty which they duly took to move the score to 15 – 8.

At times in the past this might have been a killer blow, but this squad of players never gives up and the mighty Maroon & Gold were not done. After the forwards gained possession in mid-field, Watson at scrum half fed the ball to Peel and on the Railton who took it over the gain line, then fullback Kino joined the line and chipped ahead – his kick was right on the button and landed in the try area where following up his own kick he touched down for a great score, which he also converted, scores were now level at 15 – 15 and a tense finish to the match was assured. With the feeling they were in the ascendancy Birch had a good run down the wing only to be thwarted, while Gretton was manful in defence as that seemed to be the favoured side for the Aldwinians to attack.

With 20 minutes to go Gretton left the pitch to make way for 1st XV debutant Jack Mckenna who coolly slotted into a position on the wing. Disaster struck with around 15 minutes to go when Slinger, who was having a fantastic game on the open side left the pitch with a dislocated shoulder, leaving Kino to move onto the flank and a tremendously sporting gesture from the hosts where they allowed Gretton back onto the pitch to cover the fullback position.

Clitheroe moved into the Aldwinians half as the clock ticked down and were awarded a penalty, Cowgill realised the defenders had not retired the required 10 metres and took a quick tap – forcing the referee to march the penalty 10 yards deeper into the Aldwinians half.

Ice man Kino stepped up to slot the 3 points on offer to cap his performance as Man of the Match and the Maroon & Gold took the lead for the first time in the game. As the final 2 minutes dwindled away the final whistle went and the squad rightly celebrated. It was a tight fought game and one which the whole team can take great pride in being part of.

Next week sees the 1st XV play at home for the first time this season, with Leigh the visitors for a 3 pm kick off.