Clitheroe Prevail in Epic Semi Final

Clitheroe secured a place in the finals of the Raging Bull Bowl by the slimmest of margins at Old Bedians RFC last Saturday.

In a game fit for the final itself both teams produced a tremendous effort in both powerful attack and obdurate defence.

The Littlemoor outfit travelled to Bedians Didsbury HQ in good spirits. But having faced the same opposition over many years knew it would the toughest of games to garner a result from.
Both Clubs had moved sideways at the start of the season out of the RFU leagues into the Raging Bull set up in Div 3 South & North respectively and both sides had been in good form on paper all year.
However paper form goes out of the window in semi finals and it can often be the smallest of mistakes or bit of magic that can turn a close contest.

The maroons were slow out of the blocks, and couldn't have got off to a worse start, conceding a converted try within 3 minutes of the kick off.

A penalty via the boot of Marco Vaghetti steadied the nerves slightly. But Clitheroe seemed uneasy and were guilty of trying too hard at times. Extravagant long passes went to ground and little momentum could be gained.
In contrast Bedians were adept at keeping the ball and after a series of close range attacks bundled over for another try.
12-3 down and things were not looking too rosy in the Clitheroe garden.

Eventually the town team worked their way into the game and began to camp in the opposition 22. and with the scrums looking strong, began to exert some pressure.
Bedians began to gain the referees displeasure at this point and had a man in the bin. Meanwhile it was Clitheroes turn to attack. After a few waves of big lads crashing forward, props James Pate and Ben Graves well in the van at this point, enough of an overlap was created leaving just enough space for outside centre Joe Weld-Blundell (pic) to squeeze in over the whitewash. Vaghetti on hand with the extras and Clitheroe were right back in it. 12-10.

Bedians then upped their game once more and scored two more tries before the interval. But after each try Clitheroe managed to scramble back for a penalty of their own .Two for Vaghetti again, and the maroons were still clinging on at the break 17-16 behind.

No panic in the huddle at the break, just some steely determination not to let it slip. Skipper Dave Watson rallied the troops quite superbly and led by example.
A big second half was ahead and the tension was building among the traveling support.

The second half started quietly with both teams content to contest the game in the middle of the pitch for a while, whilst neither side wanted to make the mistake that could cost their team.

After Bedians had been in possession for a period of time they had managed to slowly gain a footing in Clitheroe territory but the defence was still diligent and the home attacks were nullified again and again. Eventually the patience was rewarded when a loose pass was scooped up by the ever alert Weld -Blundell who broke clear. The only problem was he was 60 metres from the try line. But with the cover rapidly closing he just made the try line to the enthusiastic cheers from the side lines. Conversion over and Clitheroe took the lead for the first time 23-17.
There was still plenty of time left and Clitheroe knew it would be the biggest last 20 minutes of the season.
As expected the home side refused to lie down and threw everything into attack. And as the clock inexorably wound down, the tension rose to fever pitch. Bedians were camped with 15 metres of the line whist Clitheroe tackled like demons. Now it was the maroons turn to get on the wrong side of the referee with two players given the yellow card in short succession. Now down to 13 men it was all or nothing for the last few minutes.
Eventually as the dam was breached and Bedians scored just to the right of the posts. The team could only watch as Bedians kicker lined up the conversion with just moments to go in the game.
But the kick drifted just by the left upright and Bedians were denied in the cruellest of fashion, as the final whistle went.
The exhausted Clitheroe team were quick to acknowledge their opposition. Bedians were a fine advert for their club and competed like warriors and gentlemen throughout.
But it is Clitheroe who go through to the finals on May 7th . First its straight back to league action with Rochdale the visitors this Saturday to Littlemoor ko 3pm.