Clitheroe took to the road for their penultimate league fixture of the 23/24 season and the last away match. Douglas Valley, home of Wigan RUFC , was the destination.
Clitheroe have strong past and present links with Wigan; former 1st XV Captain, in the early 1990's George Giles, was a refugee from the pie eaters and our current Chairman Bob Wilkinson also played in the black and white hoops in his younger [and heavier] days.
Clitheroe were strengthened with the return of Nick Roberts into the pack, but equally adroit in the back line. But injuries and unavailability's ment a reshuffle in other areas. Ben Wheale moving to the wing and Jack Stanley into the scum half berth being the more notable changes.

Clitheroe got off to a disastrous start letting the Wigan No 9 to scamper home for a brace inside the first quarter. For sure the lad was a stocky speedster but the defence was was at best, amateurish.
So 14-0 at halftime , the maroons needed to wake up fast and show a bit of steel.
Fortunately they did arise from their slumbers and take the game to Wigan. After a protracted period of pressure they managed to cause a little uncertainty in the home ranks and a good break from AD Davies and good backing up from the loose forwards, Joe Aspin went close but the second wave of support saw lock Wayne Tierney squeeze over.
No extras but a bit more like it. Wigan got one back before Clitheroe pressed again.
This time down the right flank. Wigan cleared a couple of times before Clitheroe countered strongly. Matt Mason was always looking for work, made good ground and a kick through put the home defence into panic mode. A rushed clearance was charged down and Wheale was on hand to flop over for the points.
The rest of the game was a bit of an arm wrestle, in which Wigan took the few chances on offer. But Clitheroe showed plenty of endeavour but little in the way of subtlety, becoming experts in running into people - instead of looking for space. Not a plan that works well in that part of Lancashire where tacking is meat and drink.
On the plus side several lads worked their socks off ; Tom Walton and Oscar Duck in the pack were prominent; Adam Spencer at out-half had a good game varying the plays and there was a good cameo from Benji Barraclough off the bench.
Clitheroe are far too easy to defend against in the style they are playing at the moment and need to rediscover their mojo, fast.

No game over Easter. Next game is Ormskirk at home on 6th April. 3pm