Expect the unexpected when playing Bolton 3s!

League leaders Clitheroe travelled away to play Bolton 3rd team on the back several big wins, conversely Bolton 3rds have had their problems with injuries and some were predicting an easy away win. Not Captain Oliver McEntyre though as there is no such thing as an easy away match in rugby.

From the kick off the Maroon & Golds knew they were in a match as Bolton had clearly got over their injury problems and pressed time and time again both in the loose and in attaching play. With injury problems of their own Clitheroe fielded a team which included 4 young debutants from the colt set up, with Joe Basquill already a regular being joined by Mark Piercy starting on the openside flank with Olly Greenwood and Sam Thornber on the bench eager to get on.

Opening exchanges were fairly equal, but Clitheroe pressed into the Bolton 22 on many occasions, with the hosts constantly infringing at the ruck by going over the top off their feet one or two penalty opportunities were spurned by the captain to kick for the corner and go for more points as he sensed his team need settling down with a try or two – possibly decisions he might rue as the match wore on.

It was Bolton who scored first with a penalty after an interesting interpretation of the accidental offside law, but for the first time in many a week the Maroon & Gold had to chase the game from behind. The first half wore on with Bolton’s back line making inroads to the Clitheroe try line on many occasions – only resolute defence held them out. At one such sortie the dynamic Simon Cowgill put in a big tackle and found himself at the bottom of a large ruck, when play stopped it was clear he was seriously injured and he left the pitch with a suspected broken collar bone, later confirmed by x-ray – he will be sorely missed while he recovers.

On came the lightning quick, yet robust Ross Chambermaid to replace him as Clitheroe cleared their lines. Before half time both teams slotted a penalty a piece and at the turn around Clitheroe trailed 6 – 3. Stern words at the half time team talk from the skipper and the message not to panic seemed to take time to sink in, but as the match wore on the pressure Clitheroe were beginning to put on the home team grew greater and greater. The hardworking Curphey was unlucky not to be awarded a try when he legitimately put the ball onto the posts, only for the referee to be unsighted. Then Olly Greenwood, who had been brought onto the wing from the bench, put in a tackle that led to a penalty and it was from this a well worked move saw Andrew Thornber crashed over with the ball and finally, with only 8 minutes to go, the Maroon & Golds were in front 6 – 8. Bolton came back firing as would be expected but it was another big tackle from another debutant Mark Piercy that won turnover ball which was passed through 2 sets of hands, including the industrious Sam Thornber who was on at inside centre by now, to find the electric Basquill touching down and suddenly the match was safe as Lafranceschina slotted the conversion and Clitheroe moved ahead 6 – 15 with only 1 minute to play.

The victory says a great deal about the resolute will to win in the squad this season and they can be proud of they way they played to win until the final minute – they clearly wanted the win to retain their top of the table position. It was good to see Bolton hit some form after a torrid few weeks, but the Maroon & Gold travelling faithful commented favourably on the steely performance and the winning desire of the squad.

One major plus was the fantastic performances by the young debutants, which will certainly give the selectors something to think about as the injury list shortens and Clitheroe travel away to meet Thornton Cleveleys next week.