Maroon Muddy Marvels

Clitheroe's rugby men eased passed Salford based team Broughton RFC, in what could be at best described as challenging conditions.

As the Littlemoor pitch was unplayable it was no surprise that the surface in Manchester would be soft, but creditably, both teams did their best to carve out a decent spectacle for the hardy travelling support.
Ten tries to one was the margin and this told the tale of Clitheroe's complete dominance of the game from start to finish.

Clitheroe made just two changes to their starting line up from the previous week, with mobile prop Kieron Keough coming into the front row, and Kiwi back row Darren Eagle recharged after a visit home to NZ.
A healthy looking bench included nimble hooker Adam Penney, plus rumbustious lock Ross Chamberlain. Both players getting back to their best after injury.

In the corresponding fixture earlier in the season at Littlemoor, Clitheroe had made hard work of securing a victory against a resilient defence.

Now in the return leg, expectations were of a potential 'banana skin' result if the preparation and attitude was not spot on.

Any doubts were dispelled within the first 15 minutes.

After seeing a penalty kick just fall short, full back Greg Birch [pic] made amends in tremendous style. Two tries and two conversions from the flame haired full back and Clitheroe were on their way!

Captain Nathan Peel, not to be out done, then grabbed a couple for himself and in-between times lock forward Andrew Rigby waltzed over from very close range.
The only blip as far as Clitheroe were concerned, was a single error that led to Broughton scoring a good try for themselves.

So five tries to the good at the interval with the game seemingly done and dusted, the talk was of maintaining the high standard and concentrate on technique and precision.

In the increasingly cloying mud that is exactly what they produced – almost a carbon copy of the first half.

Birch again opened the scoring to claim his hat trick. This was followed by one for No.8 Sam Thornber.

Clitheroe now were running freely and passing the ball out wide at every opportunity.

There was some great support play and the interplay between backs and forwards was of the highest order. This was meat and drink to the likes of Luke Hayton and Pete Farnsworth, both who had fine games.
Stuart Railton was in the middle of it all pulling the strings like a master puppeteer, unselfishly putting people away through gaps.

Three more tries wrapped it up for the maroon and golds; two more for the Skipper Nathan Peel and at the death, the best try of the day for wing man Lewis Hardman.

The fact that Clitheroe kept the tempo and skill level up to the final whistle was pleasing, as was the contibution of the entire squad.
Tom Hardman at prop had some good charges and both hookers, Adam Penney and Will Jones were good value, as was Kieron Keough before his enforced early retirement – an amazing burst up the touch line being a highlight.
Probably the unluckiest player was left wing Wayne Latham who didn't make it onto the score sheet but not for want of trying!

All in all a good confidence booster ahead of a stern test this weekend at Littlemoor [weather permitting] against second placed, Widnes based side Birchfield RFC