We've got that winning feeling.....

Clitheroe 1st XV closed their 2010/11 home season in style against a strong Ormskirk team on a glorious day at Littlemoor. Although they did not have things all their own way as the game opened, with Ormskirk’s young and sharp looking half backs combining well to give the visitors an opening try out wide and although the conversion was missed, the Maroon & Gold had the wake up call to tell them it was time to knuckle down and get to work, especially up front. The forwards responded by grinding their way towards their usual power-packed display. The slight changes to the front row took time to gel as Andrew Thornber had gallantly moved to loose head prop and Penny coming at hooker and Jim Smith on the tight head side, but powered in the second row by Mick and Ed Thornber the scrums began to strengthen and took 2 balls against the head – an ominous sign for the visitors. From one of these turnover balls the ball was slipped via 8, scrum half & stand-off to Bartle at inside centre who began a sublime run through the Ormskirk ranks to make it within inches of the line, the Ormskirk defence flopped over the ball and from the resulting penalty Peel dissected the posts and Clitheroe were on the scoreboard. The restart was gathered by Chamberlain who bullocked up the pitch and set up a good attacking position, again the backline were unleashed and scorched into the Ormskirk half – desperate defence usually leads to an attacking ball penalty in rugby and this game was no different. Again ice-man Peel stepped up coolly to slot the deserved points, he added two more before half time to nudge Clitheroe into a 12 – 8 lead at the break.
Looking to capitalise on Ormskirk’s mistakes the players gambled as the referee played a penalty advantage to the Maroon & Gold, Peel was having a great game at stand-off and after some good interplay with open-side flanker Si Cowgill he touched down near the posts and converted his own try to move the lead to 19 – 8. Good driving from Ed Thornber and McEntyre put Clitheroe on the front foot once more and the ball spun wide through half backs and out to Bartle who took another great run up the park, he slipped a good pass the Dickinson at outside centre and with Bleasdale in support he glided over the line to score, 24 – 8 the score and Clitheroe looking in command. Mick Thornber took the re-start and powered up the pitch, setting up the ruck, Clitheroe moved it out wide and chipped over the top – Ormskirk returned with the ball and rolled a maul 5 yards before their swift scrum half jinked his way over to claw back the score to 24 – 15 and make Clitheroe feel a little uncomfortable and an immediate response was required to seal the match away for the Maroon & Gold. Clitheroe rallied well and attacked the Ormskirk line, Hough joining the line from full back to get the ball moving wide, Bartle again popped up on one of his trademark runs to go within 10 metres – from the ensuing ruck it looked like Aaron Shread was going to cap a fine debut with a try only to be called back by the referee. Shortly after Danny Cowgill had joined the fray on the wing and in a near blueprint move was judged to taken a forward pass with the line at his mercy, seconds later he was again unlucky not to score and Clitheroe backs and forwards were running a mock. Next Ormskirk dropped a high kick and with their scrum firmly in reverse though the power of the Clitheroe tight 5 the visiting 8 and scrum half were having a torrid time at the base of the scrum. As the scrum half tried to get the ball away, Chamberlain pounced like a cat on a rat from the blind side flank and nailed him, as he clung on desperately to the ball McEntyre came in from 8 to assist and the ball popped out the Clitheroe side and flicked down the line for Dickinson to claim his second score of the game, 29 – 15.
Another 1st XV debut joined the field in the shape of Luke Hayton, who put in some crunching tackles at vital times for Clitheroe, who were now in control of the game both numerically and physically apart from odd flashes of good play from Ormskirk’s 8, 9 & 10. Again the visitors scrum was heading back at a rate of knots and again Clitheroe looked to capitalise but such was their dominance many scrums were being stopped for safety reasons. As Ormskirk tried to clear the line Watson caught the kick and popped to Bartle who got a very well deserved try to push the game clearly beyond Ormskirk at 34 – 15, who did gain a compensation try in the dying minutes to finish the game 34 – 22.
The mighty Maroon & Gold played exceptionally well against a side that clearly thought the game would be theirs. Clitheroe Man of the Match was a tough choice with virtually all players being in contention, however it was eventually awarded to Peel who orchestrated the game from 10 and nailed the penalties which kept Clitheroe in the hunt in the early stages of the match. Clitheroe travel to Rossendale on Good Friday for their final match of the league season.