Over the years the games between Carnforth and Clitheroe have always been full bloodied battles on the pitch whereas off the pitch the respect has always been huge - two clubs formed a year or two apart and the history is special. The last few seasons have seen the two clubs in different leagues but this was a massive fixture in the shape of 3 North - the two teams separated by two league points with Clitheroe holding the upper hand in 2nd place behind leaders Penrith. A win for Carnforth - which looked odds on after an hour - would have leapfrogged us into the 2nd promotion slot but a stunning comeback from the never say die visitors saw them take a commanding lead.
This was a rearranged game from a few weeks ago when Kellet Road was deemed unfit to play - today the pitch was in its usual excellent surface. Skipper Shane Weed once again had to overcome injuries and players unavailable - in came Lewis Whitfield on the wing, Peter Gatenby at scrum half and Simon Vale onto the bench - all 3 debutants for Carnforth in the biggest game of the season.
Clitheroe suffered early on when they lost their skipper and scrum half Few to a shoulder injury, both sides aimed for a quick tempo as they looked to get through each defence. The opening score came from the boot of Mathew Short via a penalty 15 minutes in. Moments later and the scores were level when Peel added the penalty. The visitors then took the lead when they capatalised on a mix up in the Carnforth backs as the ball came loose for a try in the corner.
Carnforth hit back well and on the half hour a superb break by centre Sammy Griffiths saw co centre Jack Edmondson receive the ball in space, the centre cut through before rounding the full back for a try under the posts, Short converted to regain the lead. Carnforth now looked promising with Jason Short, Dan Blenkharn and Sam Tomlinson all making breaks, Short putting in a chip kick which nearly saw Whitfield score on debut. Gatenby was sniping from scrum half and he had a very impressive debut as he set the backs away superbly.
With 3 minutes of the half remaining Clitheroe scampered down the left wing from a penalty to register a second try and once again the lead but on the stroke of half time the lead changed hands again. Blenkharn and Hamer linked before the final ball was given to Edmondson who powered over the line to touch down. Short adding the extras from the touchline for a 17 - 13 lead at the interval.
A decent crowd had swelled the gate receipts at Kellet Road with a good number of away support that had travelled on the Clitheroe party bus. The game was as expected with nobody able to call the final outcome.
Carnforth got the second half to a flyer when Griffiths again made a superb run at the heart of the visiting defence before Hamer was able to release Edmondson who went through for his hat trick, again Short slotting the extras from out wide.
Five minutes later and Carnforth went 31 - 13 up when Blenkharn was able to turn the ball over again to allow Vale to the give Hamer the chance to take the ball through and eventually score the try, Short keeping his 100% success rate going with another excellent conversion. Against a lot of the teams in the league the game would probably have been over but the visitors are not 2nd without reason. However Carnforth had further chances with winger Mike, Jason Waterhouse and skipper Weed making breaks, all being thwarted by a dogged defence.
Clitheroe got back in the game on the hour when their centre Slinger cut through to score under the posts, Peel converting. Two minutes later and Slinger again slotted through a gap with Peel bringing the scores to 31 - 27 - game well and truly back on. Carnforth had to withstand plenty of pressure and after numerous forward breaks the visitors took the lead with a try in the corner - 31 - 32 with 5 to go.
Carnforth went close with Blenkharn, Tomlinson and Short all going close as the visitors looked to grind the result out. Carnforth went down to 14 when Short took retaliation against the Clitheroe number 4 who got away with his actions again.
With Carnforth running out of steam the visitors rubbed salt into the wound with two last gasp tries to claim a great victory at 44 - 31.
Clitheroe - we congratulate you on your victory and wish you well for the rest of the season (apart from April 1st) - many thanks for the time in the clubhouse - much appreciated and we wish more clubs would do the same.
Carnforth - great performance with a vastly changed squad - lets regroup and go to Rochdale next week with huge confidence of continuing this display and getting back to winning ways.