Hard Earned Draw On the Road

A dramatic come back for Clitheroe on Saturday saved them from, what at half time looked like a deeply unpromising position.

Stiflingly sunny and hot down at the nicely appointed ground of Ormskirk RFC, the town team travelled in good spirits after last weeks victory still in the back of their minds.

Even with Club Captain Richard Few reduced to an impotent frustrated spectator, having not recovered from last weeks calf strain, Clitheroe were still able to furnish a reasonably settled squad. That was until the Gods of injury struck late in the week so James Dickinson and Graham Hanson earned call ups to the starting XV replacing Garth Spencer and Matty Bleasedale respectively. Available again Lewis Hardman joined 1st XV debutante Joe Hopkins on the bench.

Not having played Ormskirk for a number of years it was an unknown quantity for the maroons, but they were a big set of lads in both back and forwards – so the battle on would be full on.

Stand in skipper Richard Slinger, managed to loose the toss, but apart from this one aberration led the side well by example.

Ormskirk had a fairly simple game plan which revolved around their chunky pack who were guided well by a portly looking outside half, who had a surprising turn of speed for a big lad, which caught Clitheroe napping on more than one occasion.

Clitheroe were under the cosh from early on and struggled to get into game and seldom found any rhythm. Things seemed to get worse when Dickinson limped off with a groin strain, to be replaced by Joe Hopkins.

Regrettably Clitheroe found themselves on the wrong end of a penalty count – especially at the breakdown – where they struggled with the referee's interpretation of this crucial are of the game.

Ormskirk scored two tries in the first half, luckily they had nobody to kick so the half ended with the visitors trailing 10-0 down.

The only moment of levity during the first 40 minutes was the sight of one of the home forwards regurgitating last nights beer all over the pitch – probably been celebrating England's win too lustily – resulting in a lengthy delay whilst a shovel was procured and the pitch deemed fit for action again. It would happen at Twickers !

Needing to bring on fresh legs Lewis Hardman replaced Jamie Farrell at lock and Struan Robinson came on for the ever industrious Nat Dickenson.

With instructions to reassert their game plan and be much more direct ringing in their ears Clitheroe began to warm to the task.

Hopkins began to combine well with David Kenyon and live wire scrum half Joe Weld-Blundell gradually grew in confidence, asking questions of the fringe defence.

Nice ball for the backs gave Chris Stewart the rare chance of cutting the line line at a great angle. Half a gap and he didn't need asking twice before he was through under the sticks. Kenyon converted and Clitheroe were back in it. 10 -7.

Now Clitheroe were gaining the upper hand as the game seemed to be swinging their way. With the line outs working especially well they probed for the corners and from five metres out caught and drove for the line in textbook fashion. A pile up on the line and up from the bottom of the heap with ball was Clitheroe No8 James Haynes . The conversion just sailed wide but Clitheroe were ahead 10-12 with ten minutes remaining.

Not to be out done Ormskirk rallied and grabbed a try of their own to retake the lead. 15-12.

In previous years this may have been the end of it. But this years vintage Clitheroe were having none of it. With the clock running down they launched a series of attacks to put them in the Ormskirk 22 and when the home team were penalised at the ruck Clitheroe had a kick to square the game. By now Kenyon was off with an elbow injury, so up stepped Joe Hopkins to nonchalantly pop over the penalty kick as if he was on the training paddock. [pic above]

15 a piece was probably a fair result in the final analysis. Clitheroe never hit top for large chunks of the game but showed some fantastic backbone and fortitude to claw their way back into the game. Not a game for the purist but a game to learn from and thrive from. Great work from the maroons.