Upper Eden find a much-changed Clitheroe side too strong

Clitheroe 1st XV made the long but scenic journey to Upper Eden in Cumbria with many players not available; however when the going gets tough the tough get going as the saying goes. With Matt Bleasdale making his 1st XV debut on the wing, Curphey moving into the front row and Simon Cowgill just edging Ralph Rigby out of his hallowed second row shirt the team took to the pitch with a good number of changes. The welcome returns of Redfearn on the wing and Nathan Edmondson on the bench from long term injury were a plus, as was Ben Rigby moving from the wing into the scrum half position. Harry Proctor returned at prop and the squad moved with great urgency when the starting whistle went.

Right from the off the Maroon & Gold pressurised the Upper Eden line, but the pressure was not converted in to points. As the first quarter came and went, the biting wind did not numb the senses of Bleasdale who made a try saving tackle on the wing with the game finely balanced. Spurred on by the Eden attack the forwards moved the ball up the pitch form the line out after Ralph Rigby snaffled it in the air. Scrum half and nephew of Ralph, Ben Rigby, whizzed the ball out to the solid Watson at 10 who pushed the Upper Eden line back, quick ruck again and Rigby slipped it to Greenwood and on to Railton who released the flying wing Redfearn who scorched home under the posts. Conversion taken the Maroon & Gold moved into a 7 point lead. The Skipper asked his men for a big push to the half time whistle to get a good lead while they had the wind. To a man the squad responded, especially Mark Piercy in who was rampant in the loose play and aggressive driving forward, he was supported by tight forward play to retain the ball, good scrumaging and aggressive line out won the back line plenty of ball. As Clitheroe pushed into the Eden 22 area the pressure led to an Upper Eden indiscretion and quick thinking lock Cowgill showed exactly why he got the nod over Ralph Rigby in their battle for the second row slot, as he took the quick tap and drove through defence to score a good individual try. Kino converted, 14 nil to the travellers. Then further pressure on the stroke of half time saw a penalty in front of the posts, 3 points were taken and the Clitheroe men turned round 17 points to the good.

In the second half, the team were in the ascendancy once more but battled hard to maintain it in the face of a strong wind. Upper Eden came out with a rare rally and put pressure on right from the kick off. Scrappy play let them forge into the 22 yard area and after some interesting rucking they came up with the ball to scramble home in the corner – a score they deserved for their efforts.

The score spurred Clitheroe into action, solid secure ball from the restart thanks to the evergreen Proctor who secured the ball with fellow prop, the man-tank Curphey. Having a great game, Ben Rigby spun the ball out to Kino running good lines off Watson at stand-off who was running the game like a puppet master. Quick ball again saw Basquill joining the attacking line at pace and he proved unstoppable, 5 – 22 to the visitors.

Upper Eden rallied again but the Maroon & Gold line was not to be breached, although the ball needed wrapping up tighter than python’s supper by the forwards on a couple of occasions as the Upper Eden forwards drove over.

A fantastic move put the game beyond doubt, Kino picking up a loose ball and bulldozed up the pitch with the aid of Ralph Rigby and Cowgill, Penny took it on again and set up a perfect ruck, with Proctor and Curphey cleaning the ball out it was Piercy who took it on again. Quick ball for Ben Rigby was spun out to Watson and from there on to Railton, who’s work-rate all afternoon was immense, a perfectly timed pass to Greenwood saw him beak the gain line and look for all the world set to score only to be dragged down in the final yards. The back row were in quick and from the recycled ball, Basquill shot over. 5 – 27 to the Clitheroe men. A fantastic game played with great spirit from both sides and it would be easy to argue that Upper Eden deserved more from the game, however Clitheroe were strong in defence and performed clinically well in attack to ease to victory.

Next week Clitheroe 1st XV entertain Fleetwood in the much anticipated return game at Littlemoor, kick off 3 pm.