After a serious shift and change of personnel a very cobbled together and aged Clitheroe team travelled to Burnley. This was a team lacking in mobility, but with an abundance of experience. Within 5 mins Burnley were two tries up plus extras. Just like the pitch it was going to be an uphill battle.
With Roger Holmes out of retirement at hooker and David Watson running things at 9 the Clitheroe scrum was elementary, the big forwards rumbling well up the pitch ground was made; when this team puts the work in the simple crash ball works very well, and with little to stop it found themselves in the Burnley 22. Penalty awarded - points on the board was the way forward, Sam White stepped up and into the wind slotted the kick.
From the fumbled restart Phil 'Forrest' Winstanley, with ball in hand set off a dink and a dive and then a quick sidestep straight into the skipper!
Burnley ,capitalising on the loose ball, crashing over the line again extras added. Will Spencely Jones, making a cameo at 10 , played a crafty little kick at the restart, with the forwards winning the turnover Jim Smith crashed the second phase, then scampering , [a word not too often associated with Jim], round to receive the ball from WSJ off the third phase - to crash the corner from at least a yard out ; no extras added.

Half time was a solemn affair all knowing there was work to be done.

On came Matt Probart ,who had manage to arrive straight from work , at 10 & WSJ moved out to 12 .
Immediately he injected something - linking well with Caleb Brown, exceptional in his senior debut, and forwards winning crash after crash ball, a penalty awarded. Watson was eyeing up the skipper Kirk Kenyon and Smith for the big crash, but Burnley read this to and moved their big lads accordingly. They we not expecting Aaron Shread to burst through at an unbelievable pace for one so large, running over the Burnley hooker as he crashed the line for a well deserved try for the front row union. No extras added.

That was to be the last bit of magic from Clitheroe, with Burnley managing a couple more tries before the end to seal a 43-13 victory over the maroons.

Lots to work on this week but a massive effort from those that pulled on the shirt but more of everything for next weeks top of the table clash at home .

Report from man on the spot ; KK
Photos courtesy of roving photo reporters Alice & Emily - thanks!