UNRIVALLED COVERAGE OF SPORT jN THE RIBBLE VALLEY For adi


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Thursday, January 30th, 2003 36


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Clitheroe going &I1 out to get back on Prescot’s tail


By CRAIG SALMON


CLITHBR0E manager Lee Sculpher (pictured right) is look­ ing for his side to bounce back on Saturday when they welcome Woodley Sports to Shawbridge. The Blues saw their 17-match


unbeaten run, which stretches back to early October, ended by a 3-0 defeat at Congleton Town at


the weekend. The loss was particularly hard


to take for Sculpher’s men as they had more than enough chances to win the game. Sculpher said: “All good things


come to an end but I suppose it is the way it came to an end which is more disappointing. “I did not think we played as


well as we can, but I did not think we played that badly to get beaten


3-0. “Things did not run smoothly,


but we started well enough, in the


first 15 minutes. “We created two very good


chances which you would expect to take.


“They scored a contentious sec­


ond goal when the ball appeared to go out of play, but I’m not one to blame officials. “We must have had about 12


corners, five free-kicks around their penalty area and two free- kicks inside their area. “We had enough of the ball in


the final third but we couldn’t cap- italiseonit. “I also felt we didn’t press the


ball as well as we have been doing recently and let them get out of their own third too easily. | , 0” ... “I don’t blame'tiredness for the


; there and get a result. ! 1" “All runs come to an end at some


defeat. I know we have played three games in a week but I think it was the fact th a t we hadn’t played for three weeks beforehand and then we had to play three games in a week that may have been a problem but we should have had enough about us to go out


time and it is how we react to it which is the important thing.” Saturday’s'defeat saw the Blues


slip 17 points behind North west Counties’ First Division leaders Prescot Cables, although they do have three games in hand on the Merseysiders. Sculpher knows it is a big ask for.


his players to haul Prescot back but he refuses to surrender the title until it’s mathematically impossi­ ble.


; He added: “I have been saying


for the last two months that all we can do is look after ourselves and


with your Advertiser and Times sports team of Chris Boden, Craig Salmon, Phil Simpson and Edward Lee •w 1 I


RocfjteM L as Uttle


keep winning'games and hope PrescotsUpup'.UJ0'!i si“ ' - f l w * “But if we'cari’t' win the league V


then somebody has'to'cbme'second1'1' and there’s no reason why we can’t come second. “We are still involved in three


cup competitions but we can’t let the league season peter out.” Sculpher will be expecting noth­


ing less than three points on Satur­ day for the visit of Woodley - a team Clitheroe have beaten1 twice aheady this season.^ f5'r- b !1' He added: “We’ve played them


twice away from home this season,; once in the cup and once in the league, and beat them both times. “I t ’s a game we’re expected to


win and we have got to bounce back. “All the players will be fired up


for it and, with the FA Vase game the week after, all the players will want to make sure they are in the side for that.” ,


i/ ' On the injury front, Lee Cryer is


rated doubtful for Saturday’s match as he struggles to overcome an ankle injury.


\


Blues suffer mixed fortunes in league and cup clashes


Congleton Town ................................. .3 The Blues hammered the North West Clitheroe......... ........................................0 Counties’ Second Division outfit 5-1 at Shaw-


CLITHEROE’S long unbeaten 17 game run was ended on Saturday at Congleton Town, as


they went down to a 3-0 defeat. The loss also saw the Blues slip to third in


the North West Counties’ First Division - a massive 17 points behind leaders Prescot Cables, who enjoyed a thumping 4-0 win over


Flixton. It was only Clitheroe’s fourth defeat of the


season and despite enjoying plenty of the ball, Congleton proved to be a difficult side to


breakdown. The home side took the lead after 15 min­


utes when John-Paul Jones took advantage of some slack defending to score. The same player then doubled the lead 10 minutes before half-time when he reacted


quickest to a loose ball. Clitheroe created chances but were unable


to find a way past the impressive home keep­ er, with Neil Spencer and Gary Jackson going


closest to scoring. Congleton stretched their lead on 60 min­


utes through David Shaw but the Blues bat­ tled and had several goal mouth chances with­


out converting. Chris Whittingham picked up a second yel­


low card near as things went from bad to worse for Lee Sculpher’s men.


bridge with goals from Chris Whittin'gham (2), Gary Jackson, Lee Buggie and Neil


Spencer. It was Whittingham who got on the score-


sheet first when he latched onto a through-ball and slotted home inside the opening minute. The expected avalanche of goals never


materialised for the rest of the half as Spencer came nearest to scoring but his header was


saved. In fact, it was Holker who should have lev­


elled the scores but they squandered an oppor­ tunity from the penalty spot after Whitting­ ham had been penalised. The Blues opened up a two-goal cushion


immediately after the restart through Jackson before Holker pulled a goal back. That was the first goal Kris Richens had


conceded in five games. Clitheroe stepped up a gear and restored


their two-goal advantage with a close range second for Whittingham following great play by Simon Gamer down the left. Lee Buggie replaced Gary Jackson and


scored his customary goal from the substitutes bench while Neil Spencer, enjoying a rare start up front, rounded off the game with a well taken fifth goal. Curzon A sh to n.........................................1


Clitheroe......... ........................................ .5 Clitheroe Reserves ......... ............. -1


Holker Old B o y s ............................... :. v .1 •jCLITHEROE Reserves have yet to taste CLITHEROE made easy work of Holker Old '’ defeat this season and they extended their Boys on Thursday evening to book their place unbeaten run to 17 on Saturday when they in the quarter-finals of the Marsden Lan- drew with fourth-placed Curzon Ashton, cashire Trophy.


rpl’“ w,noa *“ *•«»*• F.ri cr


West Counties Reserve Division’s draw spe­ cialists, as seven of their 16 league games this season have ended all square. And that may cost them dear come the end' of the season when, the honours are being


handed out. However, Lee Boyer’s men displayed their


fighting qualities at the weekend to come from behind and earn a point. Ashton.had the first real opportunity of the


game, but goalkeeper Dariny Woodhead pulled-off an excellent reaction save to deny Hatton. Soon after Matt Gamer curled a shot wide after good build-up play, but it wds the home side who opened the scoring just before half-time when Walsh slotted home. Clitheroe knew an early response was required in the second half and this is exactly


what they got. , A clever corner-kick routine was delivered


into the danger zo'ne'by Martin Fletcher. Mike Ashton’s initial effort was blocked, but Gary Rishton smashed home the rebound. The Blues huffed and puffed for the remain­


der of the match but neither side were able to break down the two respective defences. Manager Lee Boyer said: “We are still in the


hunt for the title and still unbeaten, but we know we have drawn games this season that we really should have won, and this may cost us dearly. “The effort and commitment was there but,


unfortunately, the quality was not up to our usual standards today, although a draw was a fair result. “We are a little disappointed, but we still have to play the other sides who are challeng-


The Blues’ second string are the North . ing for promotion, so it is still in our hands. _ £ . l ! » mm true Claret fan


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MORE than £2,000 was raised dur­ ing a dinner ait Stonyhurst College. The money is to go towards the


St Mary's Hall Rugby XV's tour to Venice in April. Paul Fletcher, the ex- Burnley,


Bolton and England footballer, was guest speaker at the dinner. The Jabobean Top Refectory at


Stonyhurst College was at capacity when he regaled the audience of 150 with tales from his playing days. Guests included Mr Higgins,


headmaster of St Mary’s Hall, par­ ents and friends of Stonyhurst Col­ lege and St Mary’s Hall and the St Mary’s Hall rugby team. More than £2,000 was raised for


mmsm


the tour, with auction lots, such as a signed limited edition copy of the book "Blessed” by George Best, reaching £750. Music for the evening was provid­ ed by the Stonyhurst College string


quartet. Our picture shows some mem­ bers of the squad at the dinner, (s)


Wigan great coaches


A TOP rugby coach has put a college team through its paces. Young rugby players at Stonyhurst


College have been given expert advice from top coach Joe Lydon. Lydon, a former Rugby League player for both Wigan and Great


National


call-up for Stephen


GOALKEEPER Stephen Jones (pictured right) has won a call-up to the nation­ al Independent Schools’ Under 19 squad. Stephen, 18, of Wiswell


Lane, Whalley, will.play on Wednesday against an Essex junior side at Wellingbor­ ough School in Northamp­ tonshire. He is also looking forward


to a tour of Croatia with the Independent Schools’ squad during the Easter holidays. Stephen is a pupil at


Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Blackburn and played in the later stages of QEGS'triumph in the Inde­ pendent Schools’ FA Cup in 2001.


allevpentatnletesimpress ■ w " r , 5p '■......■ ■ warn


THE North of England Biathlon and Triathlon Championships took place in Preston on Sunday, with over 140 entrants competing in the swim, run and shot. And of those, 31 came from the Rib-


ble Valley Modern Pentathlon team, with Toby Banfield, Louise Highton and Julie Pym all double winners. ■ All three won both the Biathlon and Triathlon events, in the Open, Under 17 Girl and Masters Ladies age groups respectively, while all three also achieved Best Run. This was added to by a Best Swim for Julie in 1:10, while Toby took the


ry in the Under 15 Girls. She also added Best Run and Best Shot. The Under 11s group saw Rory


Thompson take second in the biathlon and Best Run, while secondiin the Triathlon and fourth in the Bjathlon greeted Richard Dudbridge. i ! The pair teamed up with Andrew


Marshall to take the Team Biathlon award, while Andrew’s own efforts yielded Best Shot, along with fourth in the Triathlon and fifth in the Biathlon. The only swimmer in he Under 13s


category was Bryn Phillip; who even­ tually came home runner-up in the -Biathlon competition.


Best Shot with a scbre'df!8I?A!111 lIfi l<*&no M&ira Phillip wasiihird ln- the , Sam Murray was1 almost another Under 15s Biathlon, while Liz Highton double winner, but she added a second took third in the Triathlon and fourth in the Biathlon to her Triathlon victo- in the.Biathlon, and Sally. Rowland’s


Anna’s indoor delight


ATHLETE Anna Griffiths was delighted with her performances, at the weekend AAA Junior Indoor Championships at the


-National Indoor Arena in Birm­ ingham. •^TheRClitheroe/.-ydiuii^ter:


; gained valuable experience, at Under 17 level in her first year in the age group. . ' On Saturday, her first event


was the 60m flat, and the West- holme pupil sprinted to a new personal best. Expected to bring up the tail in the sprint, Anna 'exceeded expectations by finish-- ing'40th of 45 entrants. ?'#■?% Better was to' come in the shot


putt, as she Qualified for the last ) ,eight.


/ In the final, five of her six, ' throws shattered her previous' best markb ending the day 98‘ centimetres up on her best going


; f’k-.v - ,j-s;;


-into the championship. .. The following day, competing


in the 60m hurdles, Anna was 18th of 45, but left pleased with her flat speed going into the hur­ dles. It was one of those days, as she hit the first hurdle, slowing her down and forcing her to hit four of the six obstacles.


■ ?But overall, it was an impres­ sive Weekend for the young track and field star.


'


20 King St, Clitheroe 01200 427136


or call our'Out of Hours’, booking line on 0870 5133098 Free insurance is subject to minimum spent). age limits and conditions apply.-Available with selected lour operator; efforts yielded a fifth placed Triathlon


finish. Sarah Crossley took a fifth in the


Biathlon and sixth in the Triathlon, before teaming up with Sally and Liz to take both team awards. Peter Dudbridge, Robbie Schofield


and Richard Smith came home second in both Under 15 Boys’ team events, while individually, Robbie took fourth place in both, and Peter came second in the Triathlon along with Best Shot.


Best Swim and a third in the


Biathlon greeted Sara Burns, with Catherine Dudbridge taking fourth in the Triathlon and Best Shot. But the pair proceeded to take the


Biathlon team award in the Under 17 Girls, after joining forces with Louise Highton.


Richard Stones took fourth in the


Under 17 Boys’ Biathlon, before being joined by James Crossley and Chris Waddington to finish second in the team Biathlon. Victories in both team events greet­


ed Julie Pym, Pam Highton and Bar­ bara Smith in the Masters Ladies cate­ gory. Barbara also took fifth place in the


Triathlon. Pam earned a runners-up spot in the


Triathlon, a fifth place in the Biathlon and Best Shot, while Susan Shaw took third place in the Biathlon. Tony Bush, Steve Pym and Andrew


Smith teamed up to take second place in the Masters Men Biathlon, while Tony’s solo ventures brought him a Biathlon fourth place.


Britain, now England 7s and Eng- Simon Charles, Head of Games at land A Rugby Union coach, put the Stonyhurst College said, “It was a Stonyhurst College 1st XV through wonderful experience for the squad, their paces on the aqueous all-weath- They thoroughly enjoyed Mr er pitch.


Lydon's visit and learned much from


The 1st XV have had an outstand- his expertise. We are very grateful to ing season and are unbeaten to date, him for sparing the time.”


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