No nonsense Clitheroe rack up the points once more

Clitheroe hosted Wigan at Littlemoor on Saturday in a match which would always be a close encounter, the visitors hard rugby league style of running is always difficult to contain. However, with the squad keen to protect their unbeaten home record this season they took to the field with enthusiasm. Captain Oliver McEntyre was able to name a squad which included 4 subs chomping at the bit to get on the field of play and they were needed as the physical match progressed.

With opening exchanges being fairly even, it was a deft chip over the back line by Lafranceschina which was pounced on O’Connor from the wing which opened the scoring on the 5 minutes mark. The next points went to Wigan as they popped an inside ball in the centres and span it out to the wing who duly touched down. This added an edge to the Wigan play and while the Maroon & Gold men ventured into the opposition half it was the direct running lines of Wigan that gave them yards and yards of ground. Wigan were unlucky not to score again when an untimely dropped pass gave Clitheroe a scrum in their own 22 yard area, from which they moved play back up towards their opponents try line. After a good period of pressure close on the Wigan line it was Bartle who made the break and fed the waiting O’Connor onthe wing who scored his second of the match. By this time Graves, Rigby & Lafranceschina had already left the field with foot, calf and neck injuries respectively and they were replaced by Penney, Curphey and Watson. It was Curphey who scored on the stroke of halftime and the teams turned round with Clitheroe 15 – 5 to the good.

At half time some there was some re-arrangement of the back line and a demand from the Captain for his men to step up to the mark – a request which was met by one and all. First Ross Chambermaid and Roger Carins smashed the ball up the centre of the park only for Wigan transgress and a penalty in front of the posts was on offer, this was missed but Clitheroe did not have to wait long for a score as good running by Cowgill opened up the field of play for Peel to slice home and as the score moved on the 22 – 5 the Littlemoor men started to grow in confidence. It was Carins again who battered his way up the pitch and after some good quick popped balls through the forwards McEntyre was on hand to touchdown, 27 – 5. At this point Wigan lost a man to a red card for a straight arm tackle on Bartle and this opened up the field for Basquill to scorch in under the posts after a great run, 34 – 5. Next up McEntyre picked up from the base of the scrum, wentdown the blind side to scramble a score 39 – 5. From the re-start Chambermaid drove the ball on again with Thornber in support and Peel popped up to score the next. The final try of the game went to replacement wingman Nathan Edmondson who had come on for Railton. After a good run from O’Connor who was in search of his 3rd of the game, the ball moved wide and Edmondson went in at the corner. Final score 49 – 5 and a very satisfying result. Clitheroe remain at the top of the league on points difference as they travel away to meet Bolton 3rds next Saturday.