Leigh 3rds no match for Clitheroe

Clitheroe 1st XV entertained Leigh in their first home match of the season at Littlemoor on Saturday and ran out comfortable winners by 53 – 7. Leigh had lost some players to other squads and were unable to field a front row which meant uncontested scrums from the outset of the match, which was a disappointment for both teams. Fielding a strong team with no 2nd team fixture Clitheroe started strongly and never let Leigh into the game.

The first score came on 8 minutes from Railton after the Maroon & Gold took advantage of a big overlap, Lafranceschina converted, within 5 minutes again the back line excelled and the ball spun out through several sets of hands for wing man Gretton to touchdown.

The forwards were getting some good ball and looked sharp with Andrew Thornber driving the ball in with good support from Holmes and Ed Thornber. Peel took the ball on at pace and spun a pass out to Lafranceschina who drove powerfully before getting dragged down, McEntyre was on hand to take a pop pass and score under the posts.

Watson was next on the score sheet after getting a slick pass from Rigby – he fairly scooted in from 30 yards out, Lafranceschina looked like he scored an excellent individual try only for the touch judge to raise his flag and call back play. A score shortly followed though as Rigby motored home up the wing on the stroke of half time.

With the score at 31 – 0 at the break and the Maroon & Gold were cruising – after a cracking run from Dan Smith who was well supported by Cowgill, Jim Smith took a pop pass and looked for all the world to be in under the posts only to lose his footing and from the resulting scramble Peel touched down. Within 5 minutes Gretton was again among the points, after a drive up the middle of the pitch from Ed Thornber with Ralph Rigby getting in on the act taking the ball further into the Leigh half, the backline called for the ball and there was Gretton on hand to scythe in. With the score now at 41 – 0 – Clitheroe had a mental apparition after receiving a kick into their own 22 metre area, the ball spilled loose and tenacious Leigh pounced on it to score and convert – just reward for their efforts.

With the clock ticking away, Peel scored another in the corner to move the score to 46 – 7. From that restart Atkinson took the catch and charged up the pitch like rampant rhino, with good support again from Cowgill. From there the ball spun out through the backs at the next breakdown Andrew Thornber took another crash ball to set up a quick ball, scrum half Smith whipped it out to Captain McEntyre who cut inside to finish off an excellent move. At the final whistle the score was 53 – 7 and the Maroon & Gold now move up to 4th of 14 in the league.

Next week’s match will be a tougher test away at Tyldesley for the 1st XV while the 2nd XV entertain Rossendale 3rd XV at Littlemoor with a 3pm kick off.

Starting XV:
Jim Smith, Tubber, Graves, Atkinson, Ed T, Holmes, Cowgill, McEntyre
Smith, Watson, Ed Rigby, Peel, Railton, Gretton, Lafranceschina
Subs: (all used) Ben Rigby, Adam Penney, Ralph Rigby, Jack McKenna