Carnforth RUFC

On this sunny September Saturday at Kellet Road stadium, Carnforth entered the match with some reserve hoping not to be treated to Chorley’s “Experienced” players once again like last year.

Chorley’s kick off failed to make the required 10 yards and Carnforth won the resulting scrum, John “The King” Edmondson kicked through for a line out on Chorley’s line, but Chorley were superior in the line out and managed to clear their own 22.

A steal from the back of the next scrum by Mark Barratt was taking in the their forward line with Mark Etherington slipping nicely into the scrum half position, deftly flicking to Brian Albiston who charged through for the first try of the day, which was unfortunately a little far out to convert.

Chorley replied in an expected fashion with a try & conversion, from the restart Carnforth failed to make the 10 yards but won the scrum. A following penalty to Carnforth saw a line out in the Chorley 15, won by the ever able Brian “No. 8 for life” Albiston and driven through for a 5 yard scrum down, this was won by Carnforth and swiftly passed down the back line although a hospital pass from Kevan Holden to Craig Walker could have lost the ball but a battle hardened Craig took the tackle well a kept the ball. Carnforth spent the next 10 minutes camped down in the Chorley half but a clearance kick from Chorley left Mark Etherington isolated at the back and Chorley advanced to the half way mark. Carnforth won the resulting scrum and Kevan Holden replied by clearing back to Chorley’s 22.

A scrum down under Chorley’s posts, saw a pick up by Mark Barratt, shipped to Mark Etherington, back inside to Brian Albiston who powered over for his and Carnforth’s second try, once again Carnforth failed to convert the try.

Once again the restart failed to make the distance and Carnforth won the resulting scrum, Mark Barratt shipped to Kevan Holden who chipped over the defence to himself and took the tackle, but not before offloading the ball to John Carter, who just missed it by his fingertips and otherwise had a wide open pitch.

Chorley returned with a breakaway run but Mark Etherington put in his now legendary trademark rib breaker tackle. Poor defending by Carnforth saw Chorley advance to Carnforth’s 5 yard line but Kevan Holden cleared to the half way mark once again.

Colin Stooobs came on for the injured prop Mark Moorfoot, and a fumbled penalty by Chorley once again saw Carnforth back in charge of the game. But an ever determined Chorley fought back and gained themselves an easy penalty under the posts, which was expertly scuffed by their kicker and rolled under the posts.

From the restart Carnforth found themselves back at another line out, which undoubtedly seemed to be the weakest part of their game today, but a cheeky pickup from the back of the line by Mark Barratt saw him gain over half the pitch before being taken down. Carnforth finished the first half ahead 10-7.

This time Chorley found the line with their kick off, but from the line out the referee mistook Shane “only 508 to go” Rich’s break through the line as being offside and gave a penalty within Carnforth 15 yard. Unfortunately Chorley’s No. 8 decided to take Simon Gaskin on in a fist fight and lost. During the break for the referee to talk to the Captain Steve “Our man from Afgan” Collins replaced and injured TJ Sanders & John Carter was replaced by Phil Alridge. Chorley took the opportunity to bring on the much awaited “Experienced” substitutes.

A great catch and steal from the lineout by Shane Rich saw Carnforth moving once more up the pitch. Carnforth isolated their line out problem as the jumpers Teflon shorts, so Ewan “Full Monty” Knaggs swapped shorts with one of the replaced players. Chorley won the line out and a gap in the Carnforth centres saw Chorley break through for the try & conversion. John Chippendale then replaced the now injured Simon Evans.

Once again Chorley resorted to fist fighting and once again lost and in their anger collapsed the following scrum. The game was being played out in the middle third with no team making dents in the oppositions defence, and once more a Chorley player started swinging his handbag. The resulting penalty saw Carnforth up into Chorley’s 22.

Chorley fought back and were rewarded with another try & conversion. Lee Metcalfe came on for a now injured Brian Albiston. A running drive by John Edmondson took 3 players to bring him down but by then he had took Carnforth well into Chorley’s 22. As Chorley replied their player was driven out of the sides where he fell over his own feet and stood up to take it out on one of the supporting crowd! Chorley were strangely showing all the signs of desperation of a losing team.

A nasty sliding tackle on Mark Barratt saw him down and out on the side, where a waiting Michael Walker tried to sort him out. From the resulting line out Chorley once again broke through for a try but missed the conversion.

Carnforth bravely fought back up the pitch knowing time was now against them, but in true Carnforth spirit, they did not drop their heads and were rewarded with a try from Steve Collins and a conversion from Kevan Holden.

Carnforth finished the game 17 – 26 and are away to Bury 3rds next week with the 1sts at home to which will likely be a “recognisable” Chorley 1sts.