Clitheroe traveled to Ormskirk without playing for 3 weeks and their performance had that ring rusty look about it.
The same fixture last season saw the maroons gain an away win by a single point. This time it was the home team who took the spoils, though in the cold light of day Clitheroe had a myriad of opportunities to win this game.
The comparison to the previous game, when league leaders Garstang were comprehensively outplayed on their own paddock, was clear as night and day.

To the casual observer the scene was set at the start when Ormskirk’s speedy winger was given free reign to run in a try after only two minutes of play. But upon closer inspection the die was cast during the fallow weeks between games – with training attendance seen as optional for some. We have a top class coach in Tom Lavelle, with a wealth of club, county and international experience – but if the squad aren't prepared to train as a team then the result is plain to see.

After that poor start ‘kirk scored again and Clitheroe were not in the game.. However when they eventually got going they soon laid siege to the home try line. Twice in the space of 5 minutes prop Josh Burns bundled over for a try, this was swiftly followed by a similar close range effort from Rick Slinger. After two missed conversions, Adam Spencer took over and slotted one to put Clitheroe 12-17 ahead.

Slack defence let the home team in to level the score 17-17. Then Matt Mason scored just before the interval for the maroons to retake the lead. No extras but on the stroke of half time ‘kirk slotted a penalty to make it 20-22 at the break.

The second half followed a similar theme with the lead see-sawing between the teams.

‘Kirk scored first the Mason grabbed another to level it up again. Spenners extras put the town team ahead 27-29.

But again Clitheroe could not hang on to the lead. A try and two penalties gave the home team a deserved 38-29 cushion with the clock running down.

Matty Mason secured his hat-trick and with the extras clawed the score back to 38-36 with minutes to go. But Clitheroe just didn’t have enough time or enough in the tank to stage an unlikely come back.

‘Fail to prepare; prepare to fail’ it is really as simple as that. The squad have set the bar higher in previous games, but this game they limbo danced under it.
A strong reaction is needed for a testing trip to De La Salle RFC on Saturday