It's even-stevens over the hill

Clitheroe 1st XV travelled the short distance over the hill to meet local rivals Pendle, and for the second week running they were looking to reverse an early season defeat. Considering the morning frost and a scattering of snow overnight, the pitch was in good order by the time kick off arrived.

Pendle are always strong at home and had their usual throng of support on the touchline offering the referee help and advice throughout the game. Taking a slight downhill advantage in the first half, Clitheroe took the kick and it was a scrambling Pendle defence which finally cleared their own lines and broke away up the pitch – this time it was the Maroon & Gold time to scramble into defence to avert the potential score. With the forwards beginning to dominate up front, the Clitheroe back line pressed down the pitch into enemy territory. Just when they looked likely to get the first touchdown of the match, Pendle won a penalty at the ruck and Clitheroe were caught napping as their speedy scrum half scorched up the pitch to touchdown under the posts. For the second week running after having the better of the opening exchanges Clitheroe found themselves 7 points down.

The margin of lead did not last long though as from the kick off Clitheroe reclaimed the ball thanks to a crunching tackle from Aaron Atkinson, with Graves and Dowson driving the ball on and Nuttall and Cowgill doing their usual good work in the ruck, the ball came out to Peel at 10 who slipped a pop pass to Atkinson. McEntyre took it on again and from the ensuing ruck quick hands from scrum half Watson fed Peel who slid over. The conversion was missed, but the score settled the squad down and they looked to build a lead while retaining the downhill advantage.

Straight from the re-start Clitheroe retained possession and drove down the pitch in a succession of rucks and rolling mauls which as always saw the evergreen Proctor to his best affect. Edmondson took the ball on into the Pendle half and set up a secure ruck with the aid of the other forwards. Somehow, Pendle came up with the ball and their rapid back line were soon touching down under the posts again to take the lead to 14 – 5. Skipper McEntyre was quite within his rights as questioned how they had won the ball on the floor from the ruck with the referee, but found himself staring at a yellow card and in the bin for 10 minutes as a result.

Manfully, Clitheroe defended resolutely while he was off the pitch and managed not to concede any points even though Pendle tried to press home their 1 man advantage. By half time McEntyre had returned to the fray and the scores had been evened up a little with a Clitheroe penalty being converted by Lafranceschina so the teams turned round 14 – 8.

The second half was all Clitheroe, with Pendle only making occasional progress into the Maroon & Gold half of the pitch. Pressing uphill throughout the second half Clitheroe became frustrated by the scrambling home defence and the breakdown at the vital point of many moves and breaks. Slotting a penalty to bring the scores to 14 – 11, Clitheroe absorbed the pressure of the re-start well and looked to move it back up the pitch, however the referee awarded a penalty to Pendle and they duly took the 3 points on offer to extend the score line to 17 – 11. After further pressure Clitheroe also slotted a penalty through Lafranceschina to move the score to 17 – 14.

As the match entered the final 10 minutes, Clitheroe again pressed on into the Pendle half with good running from Dickinson, O’Connor and Rigby who had by now replaced Watson. With the centre pairing of Bartle and Railton looking to smash their way through the Pendle defence at every opportunity it was surely only a matter of time before the Maroon & Gold touched down to take the lead. By now Birch was on for Atkinson adding further pace to the backline as Lafranceschina moved into the forwards. Both sides were throwing everything at the game in order to secure maximum points and it made for nerve-jangling finish, however despite Clitheroe backs and forwards popping up in all areas of the pitch and the attacking line, the final score just did not come.

A grandstand finish was on the cards as Lafranceschina held his nerve to slot a score equalling penalty and with 2 minutes to play the 17 – 17 score line reflected the close intensity of the game. As both sides continued to push for the winning score right up to the final whistle it was a tense and physical closing to the game, but neither side could push home an advantage and it ended honours even at 17 – 17.

Next week Clitheroe 1st XV travel to meet Fleetwood for the first time this season