Clitheroe 2nd XV
Matches
Sat 05 Feb 2022  ·  NOWIRUL Wayne Lord Plumbing Division 4 North
Aspull 3rd XV
39
20
CLITHEROE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
Clitheroe 2nd XV
Tries: B Wheale (3), H Thornber
A Romp in the Swamp for the 2's

A Romp in the Swamp for the 2's

Roger Holmes9 Feb 2022 - 20:27
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Soft Going Not to their Liking

With a little trip to sunny Aspull a rag tag bunch had been found, coerced and bribed and a weighty 16 actually turned up.
Having broke with tradition and the skipper winning the toss the maroons started at the top of the pitch playing down towards the clubhouse. With the returning Harry Pund and last min call up Jamie Taylor in the front row, alongside the skippers ample frame - gave the front row a cobbled together look. Big Aussie Dan in control in the engine room with, the apprentice, Phil Winstanley alongside. Back row regulars Matt Mitchell and Richard Thornber, either side of the returning Big Ben Wheale at 8. The stalwart pairing of the Rev and Matty Probert were in the half back positions. Young Matty Mason really setting his stall out and owning the 12 shirt. A favour called in last min saw the imposing Chris McKay stepping in to the 13 making his Clitheroe debut. The back three were composed of; the mighty Austin, staking a claim as the teams Mr Versatile, with the young speedsters of Henry Thornber and Rory Campbell on the wings.
From the kick off the maroons looked hungry meeting Aspull with aggression - the contacts being heavy on the soft going. On the squelchy pitch - this was not going to be a day for barbarians style rugby .
It was the home side to strike first on ten mins where a lack in communication let Aspull slip between a couple would be tacklers to open the scoring, no extras added.
From the restart the maroons came back hard - the pack running hard lines. Now with time on the ball the Rev and Probert started directing traffic ; left and then right - starting to work up the pitch. 3 or 4 phases and into the 22 ...alas : knock on!
Now was time to test this pack. The skipper and Pund , like a lopsided pair of grizzled book ends, in between the flowing locks of, last weeks stand in skipper, JT.
The maroon pack stood its ground, and not only that it was Taylor’s foot striking the ball winning against the head. The channel was clear and with a pick and go, Big Ben Wheale went fending off a couple as he crashed the line for his first. No extras added.
Big Aussie Dan collected the restart and with a couple of slick passes saw, first young Matty Mason on a beautiful little run, and with a nice offload to McKay saw him crashing lines and making meters.
But a turnover saw the home team counter and score in the corner. Extras added & the home teams tails were up.
They ran the restart straight back at the maroons, but some great tackling saw the ball turned over, and going wide. The maroons were off scampering through the mud but Ben Wheale was deemed held up over the line.
With a pulled hamstring Probert left the field. Now sporting that new leaner look and beard freshly combed, on bounded Murray, eyes twinkling the thought of playing at 10 putting a spring in his step. But the skipper had other ideas. Murray into the front row, and Jamie Taylor showing Austin just what it means to be the versatile member of the squad, taking up the half back position.
And now game on ! It was Murray’s turn at hooker: unfortunately no one told Murray all he had to do was strike the ball. So like a bull off he set not only winging the ball against the head, but almost out scrummaging them on his own. Wheale picking and going again, only to be held up yet again. With Ben needing five, back on came the strapped up Probert. And showing why he owns the Travis Perkins golden shirt JT found himself now at No. 8. Not bad for a man not even on the team sheet on Friday eve.
The Maroons starting to go up the gears. Winstanley finding himself on some big ball carrying runs. Matty Mason linking well with McKay. As he was getting cold out on the wing Thornber jr came bounding, ball in hand, one to beat. He drew the man, laid the pass, watching Mason scamper. He followed up his man to find the return pass for a 10 meter free run in under the sticks.
Now with Proberts kicking leg out of action, Murray decided to give it a go and promptly shanked it.
Only the one change at the half saw the Rev move to the wing and young Rory Campbell stepping up to scrum half.
After only a couple phases found themselves 5 meters out . With the skipper bellowing instructions - Murray charged. The skipper and Aussie Dan bound and drove legs pumping and Murray was heading for the line. Only to be held up as he landed on the Aspull player! Here’s hoping he has a quick recovery.
The next 10 mins saw the legs begin to tire on the big ball runners and with a few missed tackles saw the home side run in three quick tries one with extras, and the game seemingly slipping away.
Murray went off for a rest and Ben Wheale returned. But it was the blindside Matt Mitchell making a nuisance at the breakdown who gave the maroons a boost, and that never say die spirit kick in. Ben Wheale crashed over again for his 3rd of the day, again no extras added.
With ten mins left on the clock and score at 29 - 20 it was all to play for. But a heavy scrum saw the skipper limp off and Murray back on to finish the game. But with legs tired and clock ticking down, the young Aspull wingers had the pace, and both managed to round the defences to score in the corners. No extras added for a final score 39-20.
A score that didn’t give this, back and forth, game the credit it deserves. A good close game for the most part between two evenly matched teams.
Man of the match has to go to Ben Wheale for his hat-trick, but special mentions to Murray and Taylor both stepping in at hooker and both winning two against the head (Tubber would be proud)
The story continues next week.
KK

Match details

Match date

Sat 05 Feb 2022

Kickoff

14:15

Meet time

12:30

Competition

NOWIRUL Wayne Lord Plumbing Division 4 North

League position

3
Clitheroe 2nd XV
4
Aspull 3rd XV
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Main Sponsor 22/23 - Steel & Son with Bagot Heyes
Pitchside Sponsor - Whalley Corn Mills
Teamwear & Pitchside sponsor - MEDIA VILLAGE
Player Sponsor - LANX SHOES
Player Sponsor - WINTERBOTHAM DARBY
Player Sponsor - Cherrytree Bakery
Player Sponsor - X. & P. Mcguigan Civil Engineering Ltd
Player Sponsor - Fellside Farming
Teamwear & Pitchside sponsor - BOWKER BMW
Pitchside Sponsor - BOWLAND BREWEY
Pitchside Sponsor - The Emporium
Pitchside Sponsor - BYRNES & Co
Pitchside Sponsor - Harrisons Engineering
Pitchside Sponsor - HUNTER TREE SERVICES
Pitchside Sponsor - MITTON HALL
Pitchside Sponsor - NETTLETONS JEWELLERS
Pitchside Sponsor - NJD SPORTS INJURIES
Pitchside Sponsor - PT TRAINING GROUP
Pitchside Sponsor - RIBBLE FM
Pitchside Sponsor - SALAR MEDIA SERVICES
Pitchside Sponsor - SPIROFLOW
Pitchside Sponsor - A & R Plant Hire (NW) Ltd
Match Sponsor - ITUS SECURITY SYSTEMS
PRINCIPAL SHIRT SPONSOR 2016=17 - JONES HOMES
Pitchside Sponsor - SIGNTEC
Beer Festival 2014 - Spar
Kit Sponsor - Caterpillar