So the last waltz for the maroon and golds for the 23-24 season saw a motley selection of athletes take to the seaside at Lytham to face off against the confusingly named Fylde Vandals [4ths] . Confusing because although they also play in not dissimilar colours, and also don't have a 3rd team any more - how does that work? Who knows, indeed who cares.

The sight of the broad acres of the main pitch at Fylde brought a lump to the throat of the the tight five supertankers but less so to the goal kicker in the team.
However the firm ground and the still chilly wintery breeze made for perfect rugby conditions as the faithful travelling support and entourage snuggled up in the stand or loitered in the bar.

Clitheroe drew first blood after only five minutes; when from a close range line out a textbook catch and drive saw Pete Wombat Mitchell steer the ship over the line to claim the try. No extras this time.
All too easy it seemed.
Fylde struck back immediately and doubled their score soon after and with a penalty went to a 15-5 lead after 35 minutes.
Clitheroe needed to steady the ship, and fast. A siege of the Fylde line at the clubhouse end had the forwards , tempted on by the aroma of sausages from the kitchen, in full attack mode. Eventually the dam broke and pocket rocket Josh Burns , sporting a fetching Phantom of the Opera mask [an improvement?] scuttled over to boost morale before the interval.

More of the same were the instructions from the coaching team of Messrs Few, Procter and Watson as well as some sage advice from Mr Rudd.

Into the second period now and something must have worked; because Burns was at it again- this time flopping over after a bit of a melee on the line with Kirk Kenyon and others involved smuggling the ball around..[15-15]

Fylde hit straight back again and rather unsportingly made their conversion count [22-15].
Now it was Clitheroe's turn to score and Matt Mason was on target after a great break out of defence - simple conversion over from Jack Stanley and it's all square again. [22-22].
The game was really opening up now, like the French in Paris in the springtime - sun on their backs and all that; Blanco, Mesnel, Charvet, Sella, Lafond were just some of the fantastic players that we looked nothing like. But the crowd were getting excited as the play moved from end to end; Josh Dolan made his best break of the season and seemed to be over for a score but manged to let the ball slip away at the last moment.
Benji Barraclough was carrying hard, just like his mentor Kenyon. The back row were everywhere - Nick Good was having a fine game at No 8 and the breakaways of Joe Aspin and Matt Mr Angry Mitchell were revelling in space of the big pitch. Late call up carrying his boots 'just in case' Jake Best was also enjoying a fruitful outing in the back row.
Jamie Taylor was, as always, dependable - a steadying influence amongst the chaos - lovely hair also. Big Sam Skintight Barr was also having a forceful game - peaking just in time for the end of the season.

Time was running out and Fylde scored again - conversion over - was that the coup de grace for Clitheroe?

Not on your nelly! The town team , pride of Silcock Park, flared their collective nostrils, pawed the ground and regained procession. The backs were running it from everywhere, Aodan Hardman was on form in the centres and the wing men Luke Rogerson and the Rev Sam Cheeseman were both in the thick of it at times. Connor Fletcher was keeping the defence honest using his pace to run the ball back. Clitheroe were cleverly keeping hold of the 'pill' for a period, until space appeared for new man Luke Carr [who had the dubious pleasure of being a friend of Phil Forrest Winstanley] dived over in the dying minutes to set up a conversion to draw.
Up stepped Stanno ...and a swing of his spindly legs [last time I saw legs like that they were in a nest!] made sweet contact in his best kick of the game. But agonisingly it was inches off target. A shame - a draw would have been a fair result, but it was and entertaining game and well reffed by Pundy's daughter in law. Thanks Rosie!

So finishing 7th [of 10] in the 3N table was probably a little below expectations for the season but only a few points covered the difference between a whole bunch of teams. So quiet satisfaction overall in a season when a few youngsters have been 'blooded' and the oldies have soldiered on but all were proud to pull on the maroon and gold jersey.