This Saturday saw Medics welcome top of the table side Clitheroe to Hough End. Due to absences and injury, only 14 boys were available for the fixture and in accordance with league rules, the Medics started the game one player less than their opposition.

Understandably morale was affected, and Clitheroe took full advantage, scoring four tries in quick succession before heads had really turned on. A few stern words from senior players were needed, but after the twenty-minute mark things started to pick up. The defence looked much stronger, giving far less ground in the middle, forcing Clitheroe to go wide to use their man advantage and in the process forcing them to make errors. The attack epitomised the spirit of the day, looking to use the flair and speed to poke gaps in the Clitheroe defence and at times looking like there could be some breakthroughs. Unfortunately, the man advantage proved to be decisive, and Clitheroe went into the break with an impressive 48-0 lead.

Knowing the game was gone, the boys went into the second half with no fear, all 14 men prepared to give it their all. With the game won, Clitheroe’s energy seemed to drop, giving the Medics a chance to make a mark. A penalty just outside the 22 was taken quickly by hooker Will Spurway, and with the defence completely switched off, ran through untouched to score, to his surprise as much as anyone else’s.

The shock seemed to wake Clitheroe up, and they resumed their pressure from the first half. The Medic defence held much better than it had previously, forcing the visitors to work a lot harder for their territory. The advantage of numbers once again came into play, and with not enough bodies to cover the space, the opposition centre was able to ride a tired tackle to score under the posts.

On about the 50 minute mark play had to stop, with centre Oscar Harrsion leaving the pitch with a neck injury. With the game beyond a contest, Clitheroe agreed to shorten the game to 60 minutes and drop two players for the remainder to make it 13 vs 13. The rest of the game still proved to be eventful, with the Medics once again working good territory through some fantastic kicking from fly half Jamie Parmer, who used the additional space well and nailed a 50:22 kick to give the Medics an attacking lineout. The Medics then converted this into a score, with centre Charlie Green running an unstoppable line to break through the defence and score from first phase.

Clitheroe looked to get the last say of the game and attacked with ferocity, but the Medics were undeterred, showing some of the best defence all game and putting in monster hits on their larger opponents. The visitors kept coming, constantly threatening but for some outstanding individual efforts in defence. With the last play of the game, Clitheroe made a push into the 5m, but the defence held, winning a penalty on their own line and subsequently kicking the ball out of play to end the game.

A tough result to swallow certainly, but an outstanding effort from the 14 who turned up to win the second half and make it as difficult as possible for the opposition. Thank you to Clitheroe for playing in the spirit of the game and thank you to the referee who managed what was a difficult day very professionally.

FT Medics 14 – 55 Clitheroe
Tries: Will Spurway, Charlie Green
Conversions: Jamie Parmer x 2