Game slips away in the mire

Injuries and absences continue to dominate team matters at Clitheroe RUFC and while the storm clouds had been gathering all week there were two silver linings for Skipper Ben Graves. Firstly, no 2nd team match giving him a good pool of players to pick from and secondly, the return from injury to the back line of Paul Callaghan, renowned for his ability for breaking and entering any defensive fortress.

After a wet week it was time to get down and dirty on a sodden and soggy Littlemoor. The opening exchanges proved to be much as expected in the conditions, with tight forward exchanges and handling errors on both sides. Encroachments on floor were a regular feature and both teams tried to play the conditions – with the result being a rather stop start game. Clitheroe took the lead with a nicely slotted penalty from full-back Lafranceschina only to have it matched by Chorley a few minutes later at the other end of the pitch.

With the match and score line evenly balanced Chorley suddenly decided it was time for some open passing rugby. Building from just inside their own half after winning the ball at a breakdown, they counterattacked down the far side of the pitch through the backline – resolute tackling stalled the attack but picking up a loose ball at the back of the ensuing ruck, the Chorley openside flanker picked a good angle to scythe through the tackles and touchdown under the posts. The conversion followed and Clitheroe trailed 10 – 3.

After some clean lineout ball the Clitheroe pack drove the ball into the Chorley 22, out it spun into the hands of Callaghan who side-stepped neatly and appeared to be in under the posts, only for the referee to call him back for crossing one of his own players – a decision that looked harsh to the baying home crowd.

Just after this, Rick Slinger was taken off to inject some pace into the back row in the shape of Roger Holmes. Both sides had further chances in the first half but it was the conditions that were in charge and no further opportunities were taken.

At the halftime team talk the team agreed this was a game there for the taking. Starting positively the forwards drove the ball into the Chorley half and scrum half Brian Wood having his usual spirited game continued to spin the ball out to stand off Callaghan. His running lines were direct as usual and the back row were making their ground to win 2nd phase ball and enable renewed attacks. Handy kicking over the top also provided Clitheroe with some good pressure but the Chorley defence held firm.

After clearing this pressure Chorley pinned Clitheroe back into their own half and as the rumbling forwards pushed nearer and near the home teams line, their inside centre decided that points were needed, called for the ball and slotted a drop goal to put them 13 – 3 up.

With 15 minutes to go there was still plenty of time for the Maroon & Golds to rescue the match. On a strength sapping pitch the forwards raised their game to carry the ball out of their own half with some good direct running, popping the ball out of the tackle or picking and driving swiftly from the base of the ruck. Workhorse Rigby involved several times, Wilkinson showing great handling in the conditions to keep the move alive and Farnsworth driving forward with great verve. As ever it was a tactic that gained ground and put the team on the front foot.

However, it was the backs that provided the best chance to score in closing minutes of the match. Callaghan launched a cross field kick from the right wing of the pitch into the narrow Littlemoor try area and Gretton closed in from the left wing like a steam train only to just get beaten to the touchdown by a fraction of an inch by the dead ball line. Final score Clitheroe 3 Chorley 13.

On reflection it was a match that either team could have won given the weather and the rain soaked pitch, but these are conditions Clitheroe so often revel in. Therefore belief in themselves as a unit must surely be the key to the team closing out games like this in the future. The 1st team have no match next week, while it is the Cavaliers turn to host Chorley in the shape of their 2nd team at Littlemoor.