COLNE travelled to Thornton at the weekend hoping to carry on with their good form and string of wins.
This was probably the toughest team Colne have faced this season as they remain unbeaten in 13 games.
Thornton’s game preview boasted of having the strongest team they have fielded for a number of years.
The All Blacks opted to receive the ball from kick-off and started to string together some good forward drives which have served them well in previous games.
And this was no exception as Colne worked their way into the home side’s half, though good defence kept them at bay.
Colne pushed hard but struggled to create gaps, and even with them winning most of the lineout ball and holding their own in the scrum it seemed like it wasn’t going to be their day.
Thornton had a full complement of players and used them to their best potential, as in attack the home side were fast and dangerous on the counter attack.
Colne held out, but the experience of the home side’s backs, and in one case the sheer physical size of the centre, put Colne behind as gaps started to appear in a usually rigid back line.
Things started to get worse for Colne as they lost Matty Tindall to a hamstring injury while making a covering tackle.
Regardless Colne pressed on and absorbed what they could.
Thornton were on form and had a large portion of luck as everything they did seemed to turn out just right with the bounce of the ball.
The second half saw more injuries come Colne’s way, much to the coaches’ dismay as Jordan Sunderland was stretchered off to watch on the sidlines.
Colne struggled to gain ground as the Thornton defence pressed up hard on the attacking line, forcing them to kick to clear their lines, which in turn gave the home side the ball to counter attack.
Colne defended well and proved just how far they have come over this last season.
Thornton used their bench well as they kept the fresh legs rolling on.
The pace was fast and the hits were hard, which took its toll on the Colne pack as they struggled to fill the gaps quick enough to shut out the home attack.
Colne left the field without a point to show for their hard work, and a welcome break this week gives the All Blacks time to regroup and work on ironing out the wrinkles before the next game.
• COLNE and Nelson Rugby Club’s newly-appointed community rugby club coach has now settled into his new role.
Over the last few weeks Callum Kinnane (pictured) has been coaching tag rugby to primary school children right across the borough.
He has been coaching at St Joseph’s and Coates Lane in Barnoldswick, in Barrowford, Trawden and Colne.
Callum is now looking to start a junior girls team based at Colne and Nelson Rugby Club, and to support that aim he is soon to run coaching sessions for girls aged 14-16 at both Primet and Fisher-Moor secondary schools.
If you are interested in having a go at rugby, there are lots of opportunities to try, not only at school, as Callum is currently organising a touch rugby league at the club, which could be the fun way for you to play the game.
If you want Callum to visit your school, club, work or organisation to help you have fun with rugby and it’s various variants, you can contact him on 07910982209.