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UNRIVALLED COVERAGE OF SPORT IN THE RIBBLE VALLEY FOR DETAILS OF


ADVERTISING RING L ISA R U D G Y A R D l ON 0 1 2 0 0 4 2 2 3 2 3


Golfers’ charity booster


SWINGING into action to help th e E a s t Lancs Hospice Appeal were members of Clitheroe Golf


golf weekend, which raised £500 for appeal funds. Our photo shows the club's


Club. They organised a charity


men's captain Frank Wood- worth (left), presenting the donation to the appeal's Rib- ble Valley co-ordinator, Geoff Braithwaite, watched by the lady captain, Jean Cole, and Diana Braithwaite. The fund now stands at


J -1 u //T' * Vr 'vC'?


Thursday, January 13th, 2000


34


Triathlon date for Shawbridge chairman


challenge as one of several fund­ raising activities for the club. Mr Rush is doing a two-and-a-


S


half hour sponsored event at Hicks Health Club on Chatburn Road, which consists of a 10-mile


UPER-FIT Clitheroe FC chairman Steve Rush is to take p a r t in a tr ia th lo n


run, rowing for 5,000 metres and


a 20-mile cycle ride. Children with leukaemia will


receive 25% of proceeds. Keith Lord, in his 49th year at


the club, is running a Millennium 50-50 draw, to be held on Satur­ day, January 29th. Tickets are £1 each and 50%


of income will be paid as a prize. Vice-chairman Len Chenery is


organising a Sportsman's Evening in April, and a quiz night will be held next month in the clubhouse, with £50 for the


winners. Treasurer Terry Nelson is form­


ing an Executive Club to give


local businesses and people who can't attend matches a chance to invest in the club's future. Membership is £20 per month


and there will be a monthly draw which will pay out 50% of money taken for the month. For more information, contact Mr Nelson on 425061.


C O N F ID E N T C L I T H E R O E E N J O Y C U P S U C C E S S


£200,000 and it is hoped that building work on the hospice at Park Lee, Blackburn, will begin at the end of March, for com­ pletion in the spring of 2001. (211299/23/13)


gained the verdict over 27- handicapper Geoff Dent. Howard Taylor (37


© In-form Mytton Fold Golf Club member Trevor Thorn- ber won the ninth week of the Professional's Winter Series - but only after a card play-off. Thornber, who plays off


14 handicap, compiled 38 Stabieford points and


points) was third and Ted Bamborough (35 points) and Eamonn Bourke (34 points) finished fourth and fifth respectively. Taylor (46 points) leads


the Order of Merit from Thornber (28 points), Dent (26 points) and Jeff Hol­ land (22 points).


© Fifteen pairs recently enjoyed the Family Four-


ball at Whalley GC. The 13-hole event fea­


tured a shotgun start and was thoroughly enjoyed by


all. Nick and Jonathan


Williamson carded 36 Sta­ bieford points to win by a point over Gordon and Christopher Thorpe, with


Kieron Hunt and junior captain Michael Humphreys third. Edward Foulds won a junior gross competition


from Haley Harper. Boys or girls wishing to


take up the game, and who are currently not a member of the club, should contact junior organiser Martin Fnulds (01282 425483) or the club.


C t o o o b € d ) o ® u r f T i m e s


umph this week as hot favourites Liverpool were, bundled out of the FA Cup in dramatic fashion. Blackburn travelled to


A


Merseyside hoping to give a good account of themselves and prove they could still mix


' second half, Rovers seemed to 1 be settling for a draw before they stunned the home side with the ultimate sucker punch just minutes from time. . There were many positives to take from the game but it was particularly heartening to see 11 battling players showing such pride and determination. . And the famous victory,


it with the big boys - but ended up producing the shock of the tournament so far. Having been camped in their own half for the entire


NFIELD played host to another famous Rovers tri­


ridicule from fans recently after a series of inept displays, wrote


his name into Ewood folklore as he capped a lively performance


with a splendid winner. And though he may lack ;


creativity, skipper Lee Carsley is far more of a leader than his predecessor ever was and he . covered ever inch of the pitch. The whole team deserve


their reward of a fifth round tie against perennial cup final­


ists Newcastle, which will see a certain number nine back on his old stamping ground.


■ .wizard Damien Duff. The young Irishman has


favourites, Scott Sellars returns with Huddersfield Town on Saturday and no ■ doubt he'll have a passing interest in the form of wing


: Oh the subject of former


which will live long in the memory of fans who have endured two catastrophic years, produced some unlikely


heroes; Criticism has followed Dar­


: and white rearguard action with distinction while winning


ren Peacock around through­ out his career and he was given a testing time early on by the slippery Titi Camara. But, to his immense credit, he battled through and mar­ shalled the magnificent blue


1 his duel with the Guinean... Nathan Blake, the subject of


Snooker draws


competitions get under­ T


way this month. Ties are to be played by


SINGLES


January 31st, and the draws for both the singles and dou­ bles first rounds are as fol­ lows:


T. Rydelieard v 13.11. Sims: P.


Clegg v C. Gorzella: S. Blackburn v M. Roberts; L. Duckworth v J. Gibson; D. Ireland v K. Hardy; P. Craig v B. Grant; S. Procter v I. Middleton; F. Whitaker v S. Traynor; H. Slater v M. Paul; R Mercer v M. Lawson; S. Duck­ worth v G. Ireland: M. Plant v S. Simpson; J. Ainsworth v A. Proc­ ter; D. Nelson v N. Harris; A. Cookson V D. Smith; R. Alston v


B. Brown. DOUBLES S. Thomlinson and M. Paul v


C. Gorzella and J. Kelsall; J. Whitford and M. Duane v D. Allen and B. Brown; P. Barker and J. Barge v A. Procter and N. Thompson; S. and P. Traynor v I. Middleton and M. Plant; J. Gib­ son and K. Hardy v S. Taylor and I. Charlton; N. Harris and D. Wil­ son v P. and D. Walmsley; G. Ire­ land and I. Nash v I. Perry and E. Kenyon; K. and D. Smith v P. Mercer and M. Byrne; R. Glad­ win and M. Holdan v R. Alston and S. Duckworth; D. Ireland and D. Dean v P. and G. Clarke; S. and g! Blackburn v D. Nelson and P. Ford; N. Garner and S. Maher v G Simkin and M. Lawson; P. Craig and A. Bradshaw v M. Roberts and P. Clegg; A. Wilson and P. Conchie v S. Procter and G. Johnston; D. Johnston and M. Moss v C. Aspinall and P. Parker; S. Simpson and T. Byrne v J. Ainsworth and M. Unwin.


Meeting


will be held on Sunday at the Brown Cow from 7-30 p.m. AH members arc requested


C


to attend, and new players are welcome.


h a tb u r n Cricket Club's annual meeting


HE Clitheroe and D is t r ic t Snooker League knockout


had Ewood in raptures and opposing defenders in knots recently with his jinking runs and magical left foot - just as Sellars himself used to do ■ around a decade ago. Duffs fine form must con­


tinue if Rovers are to avenge their unfortunate defeat at the


\ attractive fixtures against the likes of Liverpool and New- ; castle come round every two or three weeks rather than every blue moon.


McAlpine last year and, despite Mr Walker’s cup dream, the league must remain top priority. The club really needs to ensure that next season,


FRANCOIS OMAMrBIYIK I


T’S funny how a 3-0 defeat can make you feel better.


Burnley, after the huge dis­


appointments of Bury and Notts County, turned on an impressive show at Coventry to raise hopes that the side can get back to their pre- Christmas form.


• Make no bones about it, the Clarets rattled the top­ flight side, although Magnus ■ Hcdnian barely broke sweat in the home goal. But, as Steve Davis said


■ after the game: "We gave a Premiership side a bit of a chasing Tor 20 minutes". And the fiery Gordon Stra-


chan admitted he was a wor­ ried man for nn hour between , Coventry's sublime first goal and lucky second. I say lucky, because, unlike


■ The way that Burnley responded to going behind - which they have done in tile, last five games - was extreme­


several observers, I will give Paul Crichton the benefit of the doubt and say that Yousscf Chippo's shot bob- bled up and deceived him.


ly brave. They might have buckled,


but instead dug deep and took the game to their hosts at


, tlie end of the first half and for half of the second. The one downside is that


the first two goals were cer­ tainly preventable, with the Clarets defence failing to


clear the ball well on both occasions. That now means 11 goals


iiave been conceded in the Inst . four games, and the side have to do without Davis at


Chesterfield on Saturday, and , Micky Mellon in midfield, : with both suspended. One presumes Chris Brass .<


By CRAIG SALMON


moment. Eight straight league victories including


S


UCCESS breeds confidence and Clitheroe are certainly playing with an abundance of self-belief a t the


Saturday’s vital away win over promotion rivals Newcastle Town was followed by a fine 3-1 victory over UniBond First Division out­ fit Chorley at Victory Park on Tuesday. Clitheroe chief Steve Parry was jubilant


after Saturday’s game and said; “I thought we came into it after the first 30 minutes, we had a slow s ta r t , but I thought we fully


deserved the win. “There was a determination about us and I thought we coped well with all the hype sur­


rounding the game.” Tuesday’s encounter against a club doing


quite well in a division higher was a sign of the progress the blues have made over the last


few months. 1-Ie added: “We said before the game that


it was going to be a test for us and obviously our aspirations are for UniBond football next


year. “This is a good place to come and get a


result. I t’s a good set-up, they are doing very well in the league so it was always going to be a difficult game but we were just concentrat­ ing on keeping our run going and putting up a


good show. “We are working hard in the league, we’re


still in two cup competitions and we want to


progress in those as well. “The main thing tonight is the manner of


the performance - we did well and certainly were not over-awed in anyway. “Whether you argue that we had a bit of


■, Blues scent promotion


Newcastle Town 1 Clilheroe2


and Lenny Johnrose will;! come in to face the next-bot- ! tom side, while Bristol City , striker Tony Thorpe may well ; have been brought in on loan ■ by the time you read this.


'


But although Chesterfield i is usually a graveyard for :


. Burnley, tile time has come to i start picking up more points -


on the road. We have finally ,had th a t ,


-firstslip-up by-Wigan* and J with sides making ground on ; the Clarets while they were in ; FA Cup action, it is important; to get back to winning ways, ; Gaines agninst the likes of


Chesterfield,:and then Old­ ham, are the games you need to win, especially when you see the crucial sequence of.i games from January 29th , onwards. , Stoke away, Bristol Rovers !


at home, Bournemouth away, ; Wigan at home, Colchester away and Preston at home , are all on the agenda as the ; promotion race hots up. Hopefully we will see the -


better side of the Clarets' : Jckyll and Hyde nature. . ?


CYRIL MAKANAKYi


Leaders brought down to earth at Low Moor


Clithcroe 5 Didsbury Toe I I 7


IF top-of-the-table Didsbury came to Clitheroe expecting a repeat of their run­ away win earlier this season, they were


brought down to earth. Roger Holmes was able to field perhaps his


strongest line-up. Steven Greatorex partnered Dave Watson


in a solid-looking midfield, while Tim Ilitchen, Nathan Calton and Holmes formed


a mobile back row. With conditions heavy underfoot, Clitheroe


played the first period with the wind at their Fly-half Malcolm Ileanan employed a


Having to blow away the extra Christmas


and New Year pounds, the Cavaliers started slowly but soon began to break through the


home defence. After pressurising the line, the locals finally


won a penalty in front of the posts, which was successfully converted by debutant Mike


Holden. Clitheroe started to play exhibition rugby,


using the talent in the backs, and this was evi­ dent when Chris Stott linked with his half backs from defence to score the first try of the


game. Soon after, Holden grabbed his second score


kicking game to pin Didsbury back in their own half, but the old Clitheroe failing of not turning pressure into points was apparent


again. To their credit, the visitors defended well


and gave Clitheroe no easy penalty opportu­


nities. The first points didn't arrive until 10 min­


ing a simple conversion. The second half saw some excellent


approach play from the home side. Full-back Jermaine Bernard sliced through


but the final pass went to ground. Prop Andrew Thornber had more than one


blockbusting run, only to lack support at the vital moment, and one sweeping move involv­ ing wingman Ian Ibbotson, Heanan, Calton and scrum-half Steve Graham was foiled by


good cover tackling. With time ticking away, Clitheroe dragged


themselves back into contention. It seemed that Graham had scored from a driving maul only for the referee to award a


five-metre scrum. From the scrum, number 8 Tim Hitchen


made no mistake as he plunged over for his third try of the season to make the score 7-5. Agonisingly the attempted conversion from


the usually reliable Heanan drifted to the left of the posts and Didsbury held out to claim


the spoils. North Ribblesdale 3rds 7


Clilheroe Cavaliers 27


CLITHEROE stormed into the new century with an emphatic win over their Settle rivals.


utes before the break, when, somewhat against the run'of play, the Didsbury back row combined to score under the posts, leav­


of the afternoon by crashing over from a suc­ cessfully won scrum 15 metres from the line. However, Clitheroe relaxed and allowed the


Settle lads to come back into the game with an easy try just before half-time. With the wind behind them in the second half, Clitheroe camped for long periods in the


opposition half. Clitheroe's third try came from a quickly-


taken throw in by North Ribblesdale, which left prop forward Tony Dubowski motionless while he watched his teammates overturn the ball from the home side and release Mick Stott, who picked up the ball once over the line before touching down. Then the Cavaliers broke free from their 22


and left Paul Proctor to run half the length of the field to score the final try, giving Holden his second conversion. With some good running and passing from


the backs, and hopefully the return of a few players from their excesses during the break, the Cavaliers are looking forward to a new lease of life in the New Year.


Weekend Teams Clitheroe (v North Manchester, away, meet


1 p.m.) J. Bernard, A. Burrill, D. Watson, S. Greatorex, I. Ibbotson, M. Heanan, S. Gra­ ham, A. Thornber, M. Wilyman, J. Proctor, A. Ca,pbell, P. Proctor, A. Nuttall, R. Holmes, N. Dalton, B. Wood, A.N. Other. Clitheroe 2nds (v North Manchester, home,


meet 1-30 p.m.) C. Bosonnet, J. Breakell, P. Carberry, J. Carysforth, D. Davenport, T. Dubowski, M. Dugdale, M. Evans, D. Field­ ing, D. Glover, S. Hall, I. Harris, P. Isherwood, J. McAlonan, J. Murray, M. Holden, P. Park­ er, A. Rigby, B. Stansfisld, M. Stott, C. Stott, G. Sutcliffe, D. Tattersall.


FOR a rg u ab ly th e f irs t time this season, Clitheroe whiffed the sweet smell of promotion on Saturday. The Blues travelled to third-


often let down by wastefulness in the final third of the pitch. Kris Richens had to be alert in


causing some anxious moments in the Blues defence. Spencer’s volley from 30 yards


placed Newcastle Town know­ ing that only victory would do if they were to harbour any realistic ambition of winning the league title. Steve Parry’s men led Town


the 10th minute when Rob Myatt broke clear on the left-hand ride of the box but his shot lacked the necessary pace and power to trou­ ble the Blues keeper. Paul Whalley had a similar


by just two points in the league before the match but knew the Staffordshire outfit Had five


games in hand. A defeat here and the Blues


would have kissed goodbye to their championship aspirations


for another year. However, Neil Spencer’s win­


ner with 11 minutes of the match remaining keeps Clitheroe's hopes alive and maintains their remarkable run which has seen them win the last eight league games on the trot. The first half was a cagey


chance eight minutes later after Webster and Lee Sculpher combined to set up the ex- Accrington Stanley player. This was to be the story of


in the 71st minute forced Chris Holmes, in the Newcastle goal, to pull off a magnificent save. The importance of that save


for Newcastle was illustrated four minutes later when Twigg equalised, heading home a loose ball after a melee ensued from a corner. Town’s joy was short lived,


the first half as both teams huffed and puffed but never real­ ly troubled either goalkeeper. The fact that the second half


was a complete contrast to the first may have had something to do with Clitheroe taking the lead almost immediately after the restart. A corner in the 47th minute


inch-perfect pass from deep inside his own half for Spencer to run onto. The big centre forward held


though, as four minutes later Clitheroe were back in front. Barry Hart delivered an


was delivered to the back post by Dennis Hill and Sculpher rose highest to head home. The game then ebbed and


affair with neither side prepar­ ing to commit men forward. The influential James Web­


off his marker before slotting the ball past Holmes to send the healthy travelling band of Blues supporters into raptures. Clitheroe staved off a couple


flowed as both sides found space which was previously not there in the first half. Whalley and Andrew Taylor


ster was at the centre of most of Clitheroe’s attacks but his tidy passing from midfield was


both flashed efforts past the post and over the bar while Town’s Darren Twigg was


fortune with certain decisions doesn’t matter - you make your own luck and we kept going.” Assistant manager Ian Rishton also echoed


Parry’s sentiments but was keen to make sure the Blues keep their feet firmly on the ground. “We’ve just got to keep winning and tak­


ing each game as it comes. “A lot of pressure has been put on us in the last six weeks to keep on winning because of


the extra games that we’ve played. “But the lads have responded to it magnif­ icently, stood up to it well and risen to every


challenge.” Clitheroe prepare to travel to Maine Road


this weekend knowing that every game from now to the end of the season is going to be


like a cup final. “We actually believe that we are going to


win every game, such is the confidence in the


team,” Parry added. The Blues have a fitness doubt over skip­


per Gary Rishton for Saturday, but they are hopeful he will overcome a blistered foot to


take his place in the team. Chorley 1


Clilheroe 3


A COUPLE of refereeing decisions may have gone their way, but there is no doubt­


ing the manner of Clitheroe’s latest victory. The Blues progressed into the third round


of the Marsden Lancashire Challenge Trophy at the expense of UniBond First Division side


Chorley. The Blues were given a helping hand by


referee Mr Matadar just a couple of minutes into the second half when he awarded a con­ troversial penalty for a foul on Neil Spencer. After the penalty was scored by Dennis


Hill the man in black then sent Chorley’s Simon Kay from the field of play for presum­ ably foul and abusive language. The game opened at a frantic pace with


both sides creating good opportunities. The opening goal came on 11 minutes after


a great pass by Steve Denny was headed by Paul Whalley into the path of Neil Spencer who finished in fine style. Colin Potts hit Clitheroe’s crossbar two


minutes later but Chorley had to wait until the 32nd minute for their equaliser. Stuart Parker’s inch-perfect cross was headed home by Ian Barker inside the six


of late scares, including a head­ er from Myatt in the last minute which was cleared off the line by Sculpher. In the end the win was thor­


oughly deserved for the Shaw- bridgers and the result puts the championship race firmly in the melting pot.


CRAIG SALMON Clilheroe Reserves 3 Oldham Town Reserves 0


CLITHEROE maintained their perfect home record with a comfortable victory over bottom side Oldham Town. The visitors offered little in the attack­


Midway through the half they extend­


ed their lead when substitute Gary Jack- son rounded the keeper and leading scorer Garner slotted into the empty net from a


narrow angle. With 10 minutes to go, Garner added


ing department but were spirited in defence and kept the Blues at bay for 55 minutes before the deadlock was broken. The locals attacked from the off and hit


his second, bundling the ball home from


close range. The Blues were rewarded for their


the post twice before the break through Ian Pilkington and Matt Garner. Garner and John Holding should also


have netted from close range, but good goalkeeping and stout defending kept the visitors in the game. The Blues were again on top in the sec­


ond half and were finally rewarded when full back Shaun Berry broke clear of the defence and slid the ball home.


patience, and John Richardson, a new signing from Rossendale United, impressed in defence. First teamer Carl Greenwood worked


well in midfield, and Garner's brace now means he has reached his target of 20 goals for the season with half the games played. On Saturday the reserves have a free


date, before taking on Chadderton at home on Saturday, January 22nd, kick-off 3 p.m.


Kieron closing in on title V


ICTORY for local mountain bike ace Kieron Keough a t Tarleton in the la tes t round of the Leisure Lakes Cross-Country has put him a win away


from the title. In his first season in the sport, the 15-year-old has shown


great promise. And the Waddington-based youngster now holds a 22-point


lead at the top of the championship with two races left. With 20 points for a win, and 15 for runners-up spot, Kieron


could well wrap up a remarkable success at the next meeting, again at Tarleton, on February 13th.


each meeting so far. And it was a convincing win as the Bow- land High School pupil raced away to finish 30 seconds ahead


This was his second race win, to go with top three finishes in . of his nearest rival.


Spirited display by locals Carlelon 0, Clitheroe Uld 0


CLITHEROE travelled to Carleton for this Craven and District Football League encounter still full of Christmas spirits - and for the firs t 20 minutes it


showed. Carleton put Clitheroe under pressure from the kick-off and


United’s keeper Hargreaves had to be in tip-top form to .


were awarded a penalty after a rash challenge by Hodgkinson. Clitheroe’s luck was in, however, as the spot-kick was skied high over the bar.


quell a number of opportunities created by the opposition as they continued to dominate the opening period. The second half was a re-run of the first but Carleton were


unable to convert their lion's share of possession. The game ended without any score and Clitheroe will have


to play much better if they are to make an impact for the rest of the season.


• Turn to page 33 for the rest of the local football news. , , „ „ E -M A I L T H E S P O R T S D E S K : e j d w a r d . l e e @ J im . c o . u k


D O N ' T W A I T F O R W E E K S ! R a p id in s ta l la t io n b y s p e c i a l i s t s


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L e n H a B I A e r S a i s a


yard box. The second half began with Hill converting


a penalty for a tug on Spencer’s shirt. And seven minutes later Spencer made it 3-


1 knocking a rebound home after a Whalley shot was only parried by Chorley keeper Simon Marsh. Both sides had chances to add to the score-


sheet but in the end Clitheroe ran out com­ fortable winners.


Reserves extend perfect home record


Rochdale Under 18s 1 Clilheroe Under 18s 1


THIS was a great game to watch with both teams playing good football and showing their battling


qualities when under pressure. Clitheroe had the best of the first half and should have


had the game won by half time. Jackson made some great runs for the Blues and only


great defending and some unlucky finishing kept him out.


son fed Lord who shot from the edge of the box into the far corner, giving the Rochdale 'keeper no chance. In the second half Rochdale made most of the running


Clitheroe did take the lead on 14 minutes when Jack- , ,


but with the defence in great form and assisted by the superb Woodhead in goal, Clitheroe seemed to have the


points in the bag. However, with five minutes to go a comer was headed


home to give Rochdale a share of the points. Woodhead was named man-of-the-match.


i


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