Defeat is snatched from the jaws of victory

Clitheroe 1st XV were hosted by Chorley on a bitter cold day with a bitingly icy northerly wind blowing straight down the pitch. With one or two absentees due to work commitments in the usual back line it was down to utility player Curphey to help fill in the gaps in the centres while vice captain Bartle moved to stand off and a recall for A. Ginger on the wing to join his twin brother B. Ginger who was playing on the opposite wing.

Initial exchanges showed the vociferous Chorley crowd and the travelling Littlemoor support this was going to be a well matched game. Playing with the wind in the first half Clitheroe started well in what became a physical war of attrition. As ever when at home, Chorley also started strongly and the opening exchanges were evenly matched. About 10 minutes in the referee spotted a Chorley indiscretion at the breakdown and gave a penalty to Clitheroe, scrum half Smith took a quick tap and dashed down the pitch with his usual pace and got the pass away to Number 8 McEntyre who was in close support 10 metres from the line and finally, a pop pass to B Ginger on the wing ended up with Chorley taking the ball into touch. At the line-out, clean ball from man mountain Rigby was dropped down to Carins, who is always keen to support a good jumper, manoeuvred round the front of the line to crash in at the corner – a try he enjoyed with a mini celebration. The conversion was taken and Clitheroe had secured a good start

Chorley then pressed from the re-start only for the back row to snaffle out the attack by pouncing on some loose ball. The lines were cleared but only temporarily as Chorley attacked again, with the end result being the outside centre going in near the posts making the conversion easy. As the try was scored full back Lafranceschina had a rush of blood to the head when he tried to intercept the scorer and earned himself 10 minutes in the Sin Bin. Down to 14 men Clitheroe knuckled down to some resolute defending to make up the numbers. Charging up the pitch after regaining possession the Chorley pack were guilty of playing the ball with their hands in the ruck and Skipper Graves immediately opted to go for 3 points – up stepped Callaghan to secure the points 7 – 10 to the visitors.

After the half time break Clitheroe faced the biting wind and knew they would need to keep the game tight and play close contact rugby to control the ball. The open expansive rugby of the training field needed to filed for another day, the game plan changed to one of hammering the ball into contact and recycling it – no matter if it was a forward or a back.

It was Chorley who set down the first marker of the second half, regaining the lead with try which was converted. Clitheroe responded with a converted penalty to keep in touch with the home side 13 -14. The game flowed from one end of the pitch to the other, during one attack Curphey was caught high by the tackler and left the field to be replaced by the able and ample Keough.

Chorley were again looking hungry but valiant defence from Clitheroe saw them repelled. Eventually with the wind at their back Chorley scored in the corner with some lateral running lines which seemed to confuse the Clitheroe defence. With 15 minutes to go, Clitheroe trailed 19 – 13 – it was time for the town’s team to show their mettle. This they did with attack after attack towards the Chorley line, only to be let down by an occasional slack pass as the team tried to keep the ball alive. With possession changing hands constantly it was after the forwards had retained ball through several phases that the ball spun out to Callaghan at inside centre who, with all the agility of a cat burglar, strode over to nick the score near the posts, the try was converted and Clitheroe led by 6 points.

Victory seemed assured as the minutes ticked down – the pack were operating with renewed energy with the scent of victory in their nostrils – Edmondson and Penny in particular tacking with enthusiasm. The remaining minutes of the match seemed to go on forever, then a set scrum gave Clitheroe the chance to get rid of the ball and seal a hard earned victory. Instead, disaster! Chorley snaffled the ball and try as hard as the Clitheroe defence did, they could not kill the move and re-gain possession to get the ball dead. Chorley scored near the posts and as their kicker lined up the conversion the referee announced the kick would be the final play of the game. The final whistle Clitheroe craved had come 30 seconds too late. The finish of the game was like a dagger through the heart for the Clitheroe team that had worked so hard in the conditions.

Pluses from the game were the resolute attitude and the ability to adapt and change a game plan depending on the conditions. The down side was the cruel manner of defeat and the loss of Curphey with an serious eye injury that could see him on the missing list for a number of weeks.

Next week Clitheroe take on high flyers Hutton, who are unbeaten, playing some great rugby and could top the table if winning their games in hind. It will be Clitheroe that enter the game as underdogs and that is just the sort of game Clitheroe relish.