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Vagabonds (I.O.M.)
12–14
Visitors
Men's 1st XV
Thursday, 6 February 2025
Clitheroe traveled over to the Isle of Man by sea and by air in the highly anticipated trip to face Vagabonds RUFC in Douglas.
A mixed squad was assembled at Liverpool airport looking forward to the adventure, with a small band of supporters in tow. Straight from the airport to the ground where they met up with the seafarers who'd decided the ferry was a better option.
Whilst the lads prepped for the game it was left to the President to lead the supporters club to the bar for pre match nibbles. Vagabonds have a well appointed Clubhouse and excellent facilities to watch rugby from the balcony or on TV on the many screens. The beer was quite nice too.
To the game. In the face of a bitingly cold wind, Clitheroe took some time to get going. In the game at Silcock Park , Clitheroe won with ease but the home side wheeled out their big guns for this occasion. Fresh from seeing off Fleetwood the previous week confidence was high in the home ranks.
After their powerful backs had carved several openings it was no big surprise when the opened the scoring with a converted try.
Clitheroe didn't panic and worked their way into the game and into enemy territory; eventually as space for Adam Spencer to slice through to score and convert leveled the score at the interval.
A quickish turn round was in order as the wind , which apparently can blow all the way from the Falkland Islands , was making the elderly supporters as chilly as a penguin at Goose Green.
Now with Coach Lavelle on to steady the scrums Clitheroe began to put some phases together. Cam Bate and Connor Fletcher had half chances that were just thwarted. Will Tattersall was still asking questions of the defence along with Nick Roberts.
Up front Tom Walton began to get his act together and have some bullocking runs to put Vagabonds on the back foot.
However it was the home team who scored next, right in the corner. Was he in or out? The touch judge flapped but the ref whistled - try was good . Conversion missed. Game on.
Clitheroe were now growing in strength and when Rick Slinger poached a try it was good reward for the team. Up stepped Spenners with the conversion; with wind behind him the ball seemed have run out of puff... but in slow motion - bounced on - then over the crossbar for the extras.
Clitheroe continued to attack and other front row supertankers Pete Mitchell and Josh Burns each had their moments in the spotlight clattering into people.
Rather unfortunately a nasty looking injury to a Vagabonds player with only a few minutes to play put an end to proceedings.
All in all a decent 'W' with a mixed squad of travellers. The Vagabonds play decent rugby and were fantastic hosts. We hope the injured lads are back playing very soon.
A memorable trip for all sorts of reasons , most of which cannot be printed here.
Cheers
No pic from us this week but take a look at the home teams happy snapper's excellent pics on this link;
