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Fri 22 Apr 2011 · Division 2 North
Rossendale 2
Clitheroe 1st XV
54
14
Tries: O McEntyre, M BleasdaleConversions: N Peel (2)
Rossendale too strong for Clitheroe
Bob Wilkinson24 Apr 2011 - 18:50
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The hosts turn out a strong team to beat a plucky town team
Clitheroe 1st XV finished their league season away at Rossendale in the scorching spring sunshine and although Rossendale had too much strength in depth to trouble their hosts in the second half they did not wilt in heat. Rossendale opened strongly and it wasn’t long before Clitheroe were under pressure and under their own posts as Rossendale scored and converted – missed tackles in defence and slick running from their attackers the culprit for the score. Clitheroe pushed into their opponents half and soon had them under pressure only for the last ball not to go to hand and Rossendale took up possession and battered their way up the pitch. A further score resulted from their possession and it appeared Clitheroe were potentially staring down the barrel of a gun, especially with the early loss of key forward Ed Thornber to injury – however the chipper Penny replaced him and after a reshuffle up front and some time to gel the Clitheroe forwards started to really compete on the floor and the loose to exert some pressure on their hosts.
Peel at scrum half gave the forwards even more momentum and suddenly it was Rossendale who were under pressure – whilst the opening 20 minutes definitely belonged to them, the second 20 belonged to the Maroon & Gold. A slick kick from Dickinson at stand off pegged Rossendale in their own half and while they won their line out it was the Clitheroe forwards who came up with the ball after some good scrimmaging from Chamberlain and Cowgill. A few crash ball runs from front row union of Smith, Graves and Thornber gain more vital yards and centre Curphey was getting in on the act too with a great bulldozing run into the opponents 22. As Clitheroe look to utilise the gaps, Rossendale pressed and knocked on, from the set scrum Peel went blind and off loaded to Bleasdale on the wing who took the ball on until tackled, McEntyre picked and drove into the Rossendale pack and with more than a little help from his forward friends driving in behind him touched down, Peel converted to take the score to 14 – 7. The second half wound down to the whistle and Clitheroe continued to master the game in possession and territory but could get over the line again despite dashing runs from Hough, Basquill and Railton after the hard working forwards had supplied the ball.
At the change over it was again Clitheroe who came out quicker and again took the game to Rossendale, however the heat, hard pitch and physical game was beginning to take its toll on both sides and it was here that the larger club strength in depth came to Rossendale’s rescue with some handy replacements, especially the young stand off who slickly delivered the ball to his backline. Rossendale scored to extend their advantage in the meantime Clitheroe fullback Hough sustained an ankle injury but manfully struggled on, while Graves was replaced by Gretton as his knee injury flared up on the hard pitch. Attack is often the best form of defence and the Maroon & Gold of Clitheroe looked to live up to this adage at every opportunity – a tactic that paid dividends as while under pressure in their own half the pack snaffled the ball and it was spun out down the backline for with Basquill coming off his wing to put some pace on the ball – the forwards recycled it back and Peel put in a great kick down pitch which was perfectly weighted. Bleasdale scorched down his wing line and wrestled the ball off the defended to gain the score, which Peel converted to move the Clitheroe tally to 14 points.
As Rossendale started to power into the game with another couple of substitutions, the stark reality of playing larger club came to bare again as Dickinson dislocated a finger and had to exit the fray, but the Clitheroe bench was empty and the Maroon & Gold battled through the remaining 15 minutes of the match with only 14 men, which meant Rossendale could exploit the gaps easily and they duly ran in 4 scores which distorted the score line, but they were deserved victors with a final score of 54 – 14.
Clitheroe as ever played with a passion and power that is the trademark of the Club, next up is the final game of the season when they take up the challenge of the famous President’s Select XV at Littlemoor on 7th May, the traditional curtain call of the season.
Peel at scrum half gave the forwards even more momentum and suddenly it was Rossendale who were under pressure – whilst the opening 20 minutes definitely belonged to them, the second 20 belonged to the Maroon & Gold. A slick kick from Dickinson at stand off pegged Rossendale in their own half and while they won their line out it was the Clitheroe forwards who came up with the ball after some good scrimmaging from Chamberlain and Cowgill. A few crash ball runs from front row union of Smith, Graves and Thornber gain more vital yards and centre Curphey was getting in on the act too with a great bulldozing run into the opponents 22. As Clitheroe look to utilise the gaps, Rossendale pressed and knocked on, from the set scrum Peel went blind and off loaded to Bleasdale on the wing who took the ball on until tackled, McEntyre picked and drove into the Rossendale pack and with more than a little help from his forward friends driving in behind him touched down, Peel converted to take the score to 14 – 7. The second half wound down to the whistle and Clitheroe continued to master the game in possession and territory but could get over the line again despite dashing runs from Hough, Basquill and Railton after the hard working forwards had supplied the ball.
At the change over it was again Clitheroe who came out quicker and again took the game to Rossendale, however the heat, hard pitch and physical game was beginning to take its toll on both sides and it was here that the larger club strength in depth came to Rossendale’s rescue with some handy replacements, especially the young stand off who slickly delivered the ball to his backline. Rossendale scored to extend their advantage in the meantime Clitheroe fullback Hough sustained an ankle injury but manfully struggled on, while Graves was replaced by Gretton as his knee injury flared up on the hard pitch. Attack is often the best form of defence and the Maroon & Gold of Clitheroe looked to live up to this adage at every opportunity – a tactic that paid dividends as while under pressure in their own half the pack snaffled the ball and it was spun out down the backline for with Basquill coming off his wing to put some pace on the ball – the forwards recycled it back and Peel put in a great kick down pitch which was perfectly weighted. Bleasdale scorched down his wing line and wrestled the ball off the defended to gain the score, which Peel converted to move the Clitheroe tally to 14 points.
As Rossendale started to power into the game with another couple of substitutions, the stark reality of playing larger club came to bare again as Dickinson dislocated a finger and had to exit the fray, but the Clitheroe bench was empty and the Maroon & Gold battled through the remaining 15 minutes of the match with only 14 men, which meant Rossendale could exploit the gaps easily and they duly ran in 4 scores which distorted the score line, but they were deserved victors with a final score of 54 – 14.
Clitheroe as ever played with a passion and power that is the trademark of the Club, next up is the final game of the season when they take up the challenge of the famous President’s Select XV at Littlemoor on 7th May, the traditional curtain call of the season.
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