Clitheroe Win it in the Mud

A dank dismal November day at Littlemoor was brightened by the town team progressing through to the quarter finals of the Raging Bull Bowl completion at the expense of league rivals Tarleton.

Having played, and won against the same opposition the previous week, a confident team thought they knew what to expect. And though the eventual points margin was similar to the away league fixture, the manner of victory was total different. The team were certainly made to work hard for the win.

A morning of is it or isn't it on didn't help preparations; but some heroic forking to remove the bulk of the surface water meant a, surprisingly open at time, game of cup rugby ensued.

Clitheroe made a couple of changes to the team; a reshuffle in the backs saw Joe Hopkins start at fly half and Matt Bleasdale on the left wing. One change in the pack – Nat Dickenson coming in at blindside flank.
A handy looking bench was on offer; with the ever keen Jamie Farrell and, fit at last, Mark Jackson plus a cameo for Peni Bevu.

The rain had eased to a drizzle and skipper Richard Few elected to play with slope and demanded quick scores to set the correct tone for the game.

Clitheroe duly obliged and started throwing the ball about in almost cavalier fashion initially. Plus with the forwards warming to their task and forcing many turn overs, it gave the speedy looking back line plenty of ammunition to attack.

After a couple of thrusts in the outside channel interested the defence, a sharp inside ball from Hopkins put Chris Stewart through the gap to open Clitheroe's account on the scoreboard.
Hopkins was on hand with the extras and he was needed again shortly afterwards.

A wave of attacks were well supported by the pack, who efficiently repeatedly recycled the ball and this time it was powerful Welsh No.8 James Haynes who was diving over the whitewash.

Clitheroe kept up the pressure nicely and a penalty from Hopkins kept the scoreboard ticking over as half time approached.
Just on the stroke of the interval Tarleton showed they had not come to roll over and scored a try of their own.

Clitheroe rotated the bench players to freshen up proceedings, but Tarleton started the second period strongly.
Their confidence buoyed by their first try they scored another shortly after the restart. The conversion put them within a score of the maroons, and suddenly they were wobbling.

Clitheroe pressed again and spent a quantity of time in the Tarleton 'red zone'. Their patience was eventually rewarded. Ruck ball under the post was moved to the right where there was a slight overlap. Some excellent swift take and give passing from the tight forwards, Richard Edmondson and Farrell to the fore, put arch finisher Joe Smith in for the score.

Again Hopkins [pictured] converted to seal a man of the match performance.

But their was still time for one more score, as Clitheroe finished the stronger side. A prolonged skirmish under the shadow of the posts saw the ball eventually shipped out to the left where lock forward Lewis Hardman was loitering. Showing a surprising turn of speed and the merest hint of a side step he slithered in and rounded off the game in style for the hardy and appreciative supporters.

So it's into the hat for the quarters in February for the Littlemoor men, in winning their 5th game on the bounce.
In fact, although the 2nd XV fixture fell foul of the weather this week and was postponed, both Clitheroe's senior teams are undefeated at Littlemoor HQ this season.

Long may it continue.