It's true that they didn't hit the straps so to speak and perhaps didn't ever reach top gear in this contest, but Clitheroe 1sts kick started their season with a solid win at North Manchester.

After a massive amount of rain had fallen during the night and on the morning prior to the game, it was a surprise to see a pitch that wasn't too heavy. It's a good flat track at N Manchester and evidently drains well, just like our own blessed piece of turf back at Littlemoor. Anyway, to the game,..... it was nip and tuck at the start with both defences being tested but neither team really creating continuity. More than 20 minutes had elapsed before the first points were on the board and it was down to the hosts scoring a penalty from near the sticks.

Clitheroe hit straight back and with forwards and backs combining, full back Cathcart found some space on the right and after jinking first right, then left, he danced his way over to score the game's first try. McMahon slotted his first attempt and the visitors took the lead 7-3. The hosts hit back equally quickly with their own converted try before just a few minutes later, McMahon levelled with a simple penalty, despite it ricocheting against the bar, to take the score to 10 a piece. The final score of the first half fell to N Manchester with their large forwards barrelling over some relatively ineffective defence. Defensive Coach Penney, at home with his new baby girl, would have been tearing his hair out....if he was blessed with any that is. At half time, Clitheroe were in arrears 10-17 and were clearly frustrated they hadn't got more out of the 40 minutes of effort.

The half time team talk worked a treat and Clitheroe were sraight out of the blocks. Five minutes into the half, fly half McMahon put open side Wilkinson into a rather large gap near the half way line and he sprinted through, just evading a desperate tackle near the line to score under the posts. McMahon added the extras and Clitheroe were level at 17-17. This was looking better.

A few minutes later and Clitheroe were really testing the hosts' defence. An attacking scrum around the halfway line gave scrum half Peel just what he needed to turn the N Manchester defence. Sharp hands from McMahon & Cathcart put Duthie away down the right and he streaked away to score by the posts. The conversion was added by McMahon taking the score to 24-17 to Clitheroe.

Over the next section of the game, North Manchester really tried forcing their way back into it but time and time again, excellent defence put pressure on the waves of attacks and the turnovers kept coming Clitheroe's way. That said, N Manchester managed to gain a foothold territorially on 25 minutes and despite gritty defending, Clitheroe gave away one too many penalties for the referee's liking and a penalty try was awarded. So although Clitheroe had been playing the majority of rugby in the half, they found themselves level at 24 each with only 15 to play.

Previously, Clitheroe might have wilted but this certainly didn't happen this time. The forwards kept focus on the things that mattered whilst the backs poked the ball into all the right places, moving the defence around the pitch and back into their own half. A missed penalty from McMahon was unusual given his previously excellent record but that didn't put the lads off and some excellent passing from the backs right to left gave winger Lancaster an inch of space as he sped down the left wing a full 60 metres to dot down in the corner. The conversion drifted just wide.

Only a minute later, perhaps the best try of the game was scored. Clitheroe had put the ball deep into the North Manchester half and forced a turnover. A strong Dickenson drive followed by a deft cross field kick by Cathcart was picked up on the bounce by a grateful Duthie to give him an excellent brace of tries. McMahon was then successful from the tee and with only a few mins to go, Clitheroe led 36-24.

Clitheroe started to breathe a little easier and controlled the remainder of the game with a nice 12 point cushion.

This was a super win for the maroon and golds, the first under Coach Chamberlain's tenure but definitely not the last. The team is growing in belief and there's much much more to come. In fact, next week's home fixture versus Bury should be well worth watching, kicking off at Littlemoor at 15:00.