Agony for Maroons at Bury

A nail biting finish to a hard fought match for the town team away at second placed Bury ended in disappointment.

With the score at 15-14 to the home side, the final kick of the game saw a touchline conversion attempt from the Skipper Nathan Peel sailed agonisingly wide.

Bury are always a formidable opponent on their home paddock and Clitheroe we not without their own problems to seek. A raft of injuries had stretched resourses to the limit. None more so than in the pack; where the two veterans, Steve Dowson and Andrew Rigby, packed down in the second row. But pleasingly there was a first start for bulky prop Ben Graves after nearly two seasons out of the game with injury.
A recall for Rick Slinger on the flank and James ‘Taffy’ Haynes kept his place in the squad after a fine game the previous week.

The back line had a more settled air about it. A fresh centre permutation with Chris Waddington team up with Marco Vaghetti, looked like an exciting combination.
Bury’s pitch was a marvellous carpet of lush green and aided in an exciting game.

The first quarter was fairly even with both sides trading penalties. Although Clitheroe seemed to manage to get on the wrong side of the ref on too many occasions and the penalty count mounted up alarmingly against the maroons.

A bit of back chat gave the home team easy possession and directly from it scored a try to take the lead.
Just before the interval with their gander up, Bury pounded hard on the Clitheroe line. After holding out from a series of close range penalties, scrums and line outs, the ref at last blew for half time. Great relief and pride from the Maroon and Golds. Only 3 points adrift then at the turn around Clitheroe felt there was still plenty in the game for them.

Unfortunately Bury had other ideas and cranked up the pressure and were soon driving at the Clitheroe line. After a series of raids under the shadow of the posts, Clitheroe tested the ref’s patience once too often and a penalty try ensued.

It was now all or nothing for Clitheroe as they turned up the heat on a freezing cold day. On came Dan Smith for Richard Few at scum half and Andrew Thornber for Adam Penney at hooker to give some extra impetus.

As the clock went against Clitheroe the ball was spun out wide and full back Chris Stewart [pic] at last used his pace and power to crash through several would be tacklers to score with the final play.

Alas too little too late for Clitheroe. A one point reverse against one of the top teams in the division is no disgrace and an excellent never say die attitude should see some scalps in the second half of the season.