Battling Win at Rossendale for 2's

*apologies for the late upload of KK's match report. Which looks like the last one for this season. Well done lads, chuffing good effort anyone who has pulled on the jersey this season.*

An away trip to Rossendale to play their 3s was on the cards this week & the usual ensemble was gathered plus a couple new faces too.

A good breeze and a walk to the furthest away pitch was in store; as is the norm the skipper lost the toss. [what a tosser]
Therefore the 2s started with the kick off at the base of the hill. With the new face of Toddy starting at prop alongside the ever youthful Tubber [really?] and the energetic Tom Hardman [again..really?] in the front row, the pack had a keen edge of hard hitting dynamic runners waiting to be unleashed.
But it was Dale who struck first. Opening the scoring with a well worked try. No extras added.
The pack rallied & the defensive line was strong and soon won the ball back . Some big carries from the bigger Clitheroe pack made ground for a darting run from Sam White. This saw the maroons inside the Dale 22. Oddjob Watson, from the base, hit the skipper with a sweet pass and the collision was not going to end well. A Rossendale player taking a leg each way was to end the skippers day. Bad luck Kirky. But up stepped Mr HP Farnsworth rallying the troops, galvanising the players. On came green fingered A West who in two phases ball in hand sat the Dale flanker on his butt as he went for the corner.

Matt Bleasdale was filling in at fly half [well let’s just say kicking conversions was not high on his agenda today.] see video No extras to be had.

The phases kept going with all having some amazing runs the Walton boys of Mathew and Aidan in particular Sam White's jinking runs and a sweet little pop saw Bleasdale break from half way an unchallenged jog under the sticks for the maroons second a beautiful try. Elegance to watch unlike the attempted conversion which never even got close.

After a bit of Ill discipline which saw Aidan Walton sent for a ten minute rest and after Matt Mitchell had also been sent to the bin earlier in the half, Rossendale struck for a try but again no extras added.
Rossendale now with their tails up, and a man advantage, kept coming wave after wave. The maroon defence held firm & the whistle couldn’t come soon enough .
Then in the final minutes the Rossendale full back broke free and went.
It had try written all over it.
But out of no where covering the full width of the pitch came Phil Forrest Winstanly ;going for broke nailed the fullback straight into touch as the half time whistle came !

10-10 was a fair assessment of the first 40.

The maroons start the second half at the top of the hill with a couple of changes saw Wombat on for Tubber and Chris Birchall on for Toddy . Young Rob Lee gave Sam White a rest in the back line.

The maroons were again in the driving seat - phase after phase - giving Rossendale the only hope of kicking to relive the pressure. Only for it to fall in the hands of and be run back by the flying Frenchman Brunoooo, who was bundled into touch. The subsequent lineout was won cleanly & maul formed and moving. Players peeling left and right, surging forward 2 meters out, another push more bodies in 1 meter out. Last gasp still inch by inch closer to the line and over it.
Up goes the refs arm! Try awarded.
But who under the mass of maroon bodies peeling up, would it be. There at the base - grinning like it was his newborn daughter in his arms the powerhouse that is Tom Hardman . Well in Tommo.
Just an absolute master class in blunt force trauma. A truly forwards try: no airs or graces. Functionality and brute force.
Again Bleasdale attempt at a conversion went a little screw.

The restart was caught by Forrest - tails were up. So off again with Clitheroe dominating the breakdown phase after phase before A West broke again, and went for broke beating two defenders ,to secure his second try .

Change of kicker this time but Sam White fared no better than Bleasdale.... no extras added.

A lapse in the defensive line saw Rossendale grab an easy try again no extras added.

So to the last ten mins a strange half charged down kick from Mr HP Farnsworth saw him regather the ball and he was off over halfway in space. His legs pumping & gasping for air over the 22 . With only the fullback to beat he unselfishly drew the man & gave beautiful little offload to Sam, who dashed to the line to keep the pressure on Bleasdale for most tries this season.

Again a change of kicker saw young Rob Lee have a go ;and by god just skimmed the upright! The closet kick all game but still no extras.

Rossendale rallied and came again time after time. The defensive line held; focused & determined.
Rossendale threw everything at them - the line held but a break came . Again the fullback broke, and again in a mirror image of the first half the saviour, simply known as Forrest, from the other side of the pitch nailed the poor kid into touch.

The defence held the line remained unbroken as the ref blew full time 25-15 to the maroons in a game that saw just what it means to pull on the Clitheroe shirt week in week out.
Heart, passion and a desire to keep going no matter what.
Three games left and now a glimmer, a hope like a whisper on the breeze could these boys pull off the upset and avoid relegation only time will tell.
Great team performance but for not one but two try saving tackles Phil Forrest Winstanley easily gets my man of the match hard earned and much deserved.

Report by KK
Translated by a Special Correspondent