COLNE and Nelson hosted Old Bedians at Holt House, and with the visiting side one point ahead, both teams knew how important this game was for league position.
From the kick-off both teams found the soft ground hard work to gain momentum, with the sun and wind in Colne’s faces.
Good defence from both sides kept the game in the midfield with both teams sharing the early exchanges, but the loss of Andrew Grinrod meant Colne had to reshuffle, and new boy Kyle Hargreaves to fill the gap.
Colne struck first when some good forward pressure from the front row of Jones,Wood and Padgett earned a penalty which Tindall slotted over.
But Colne were soon battling it out in midfield again.
The Bedes started to form up some good phases of play which tested the Colne defence. This paid off as they slipped through to score and convert to lead 7-3 at the half-time whistle.
In the second half, from the kick Colne went on the offensive, and a series of forward moves followed by a chip over the top from Callum Kinnane saw winger Dean Sykes pick up the loose ball and to put Colne in front 8-7.
Colne upped the pace of the game. The second rows of Britcliffe and Singleton were providing the power in the scrum, and Edwards at eight was proving difficult to handle.
Straight from the restart Colne were in the visitors’ teritory again, and this time a drive and quick offload from Mark Britcliffe saw Howard Wick chasing for the line, only to be closed down, Wick managed to release a floating ball for Sunderland to collect and finish the job, try converted by Tindall.
Colne continued with the good quick rugby as the All Blacks found themselves back in Bedes territory again, as quick hands from the back line left Matty Tindall space to cross over for Colne’s third of the day, though the kick was missed to leave the score 20-7.
This seemed to spark life into the Bedians pack as they drove the ball up field and spent a good 20 minutes camped in the home 22.
The visitors pinned Colne down with some excellent pick and drives and forward running and the locals found it hard to clear their own lines, with only some resilient tackling keeping the visitors at bay, and eventually a penalty to Colne gave the hosts chance to clear.
With the clock running down, one last attack from the All Blacks had the backs racing for the try line, only to be brought down a few centimetres short. Quick thinking from Sunderland saw him pick up and dive over before the defence could reset and score his second of the day. The conversion was missed, leaving Colne in front 25-7.
Many thanks to match sponsors SPN Electrical.
FINAL SCORE: Colne and Nelson 25, Old Bedians 7
COLNE enjoyed a home victory in a game which was played in very bad weather conditions.
From the start Colne put Carnforth under immense pressure, attacking at every opportunity, and only stalwart defending from Carnforth kept the All Blacks at bay.
Some dubious decisions went against Colne time after time, allowing the Carnforth defence to clear.
But the Carnforth stand off kicked the ball high into the All Black half, and it fell perfectly into the arms of full back Antony Millar, who ran the ball back, and, supported by the half backs, quick ball from Steven Peace sent scrum half Sam Dobney in for the score, which he converted.
Before half-time the All Blacks soaked up a lot of pressure from Carnforth, but quick ball from a ruck saw the winger score unopposed in the corner. The conversion was missed to make it 7-5.
The second half with the All Blacks piling on the pressure, only to be stopped in their tracks by a very strong defensive line.
Into the last quarter of the game Carnforth got their heads together and went for the win.
Carnforth won a penalty just outside Colne’s 22, and they elected to kick at goal, only to miss.
With three minutes on the clock, hooker Jason Wade made a break for the Carnforth line and was stopped just short. From the ruck, big Howard Howarth picked up the ball and went for the line, only to run into the referee and knock him down, as he went in for the score.
Dobney kicked the conversion - game over.
FINAL SCORE: Colne and Nelson 2nds 14, Carnforth 2nds 5