1st XV Lay The Ghost of Oldham Past

Clitheroe's rugby team eased through the preliminary round of the Raging Bull Bowl competition last Saturday at Oldham, and in doing so exorcised the ghosts of their last visit to Manor Park this time last year.

On that occasion, like this, they smoothly moved into a 26 point lead just after the interval; but then hit the self destruct button and lost by a single point.
On this day the result was different, much different. After building a four try lead they kicked on with another four to completely overwhelm their hosts.

A dry day on a lovely pitch made it and ideal platform for Clitheroe's mobile team to cut loose.

On the back of last season's improvements, the Littlemoor outfit are developing nicely game by game.

Prop forward Will Dickenson failed a late fitness test meaning a recall to the colours for veteran Ben Graves. A first full start for new man Harry Bailey in the back row was to prove influential as was the débutante Mike Floyd out on the left wing after impressing in the 2nd XV.

For the first time this season the maroons got off to a decent start and were quickly into their stride. And although Oldham fielded a jumbo pack of forwards with some strong ball carriers, who would test the fringe defence all afternoon, but Clitheroe were confident they could gain parity in this area. Plus they had the ability to play the wider game - and use what would be their trump card of superior mobility and conditioning.

It took only 8 minutes for Clitheroe to open their account when Chris Stewart carved a line right through the middle of a flat footed defence to dot down under the posts.

Next on the receiving end was wing man David Seed who scorched down the wing after a midfield scrum ball was deftly passed down the line.

Just over the half hour mark it was Harry Bailey who showed a glimpse of his speed and support play, to back up a break from Stewart and out pace the cover to score an excellent first try for the club.

So 0-19 up at the turnaround and Clitheroe were in the mood for more.

As the Oldham team began to tire they began to kick loosely to clear their lines. This was meat and drink to a counter attacking full back in the shape of Martin Lafranceschina. From inside his own 22 he twisted and turned setting off on a mazy run right through the heart of the Oldham defence,. As it seemed he might go all the way to line he was hauled down just 10 metres out, but backing up superbly was lock Ross Chamberlain who plunged over for a deserved try.

Now Clitheroe were confident and from a clean lineout ball centre James Dickinson took a flat pass and carved through for a classic first phase try.

Almost as quickly as the crowd drew breath David Seed had burst down the wing to cap a brace of tries, even though he did tweak a 'hammy' in the process.

Clitheroe were not finished yet. Harry Bailey grabbed his second again supporting well and striding away from the helpless cover to complete a more than satisfactory game for the rangy forward.

Oldham showed great character in grabbing a try back of their own to give the home fans something to cling onto and maybe dream of a fightback.

But Clitheroe were having none of it. To wrap things up, it was Nathan Peel who had played a mature and unselfish hand at outside half, decided to have little probe of his own. A scuttling weaving run saw him over the whitewash to cap a good afternoons work for the bearded one, which included 5 conversions to go with his try.

A cracking performance from the town team, but even they know there are many areas they can improve on. There is so much more to come and there are far harder examinations to face for this group of players.

Special mention to Mike Floyd whose work rate was exceptional and deserved a try, plus the good scavenging from Nat Dickenson, the steadying influence of Darren Eagle plus the unsung industry of Lewis Hardman.

This weekend Clitheroe host Rochdale at Littlemoor k