THE All Blacks travelled to Liverpool at the weekend to face Mossley Hill, a team who have guaranteed promotion to the league above, still with two games in hand of their nearest challengers.
The Colne outfit knew this was going to be a tough encounter, but spirits were high and Colne were on form after last weeks win.
The All Blacks didn’t disappoint as, from the kick-off, Colne were applying pressure to the Liverpool side’s defensive line, and with the return of Luke Edwards from injury, his contribution to the Colne forwards was outstanding.
Colne were on form and started play some good, controlled rugby and gained ground at every opportunity, but the Mossley defence was organised and thwarted Colne’s attempts at crossing the line with some good strong tackling, which gave them time to clear their lines.
Mossley Hill soon showed why they are in the position that they are in with some good forward play, and then quick ball out to the winger which caught the Colne defence on the back foot, and he scored in the corner.
Colne were not disheartened by this and came back with more pressure, and soon gained a penalty within kicking distance which Hugo Leaver easily slotted over.
But again Mossley Hill had the answer, as, from the kick-off, they gained turnover ball and again quick play left Colne watching as the home side gained another five points.
The Mossley hill defence was proving tough to break for the All Blacks, but just before the break Colne gained another penalty within kicking range, leaving the half-time score at 10-6 to the home side.
From the restart Colne received and drove the ball into the home side’s half, but a couple of mistakes gave the Liverpool outfit chance to capitalise on Colne’s mistakes and gain two tries in quick succession, much to Colnes dismay.
But they were playing good rugby and felt the game was not yet out of reach.
Both teams were feeling the intensity as the mistakes came thick and fast, which kept play around centre field with both teams trying to gain ground.
Colne had some great flurries of quality rugby, but again the opposition defence was on form to save the day and frustrate the All Blacks even further.
A valiant effort from Colne against a side who have proven that they deserve to be in the league above, the final score left at 20-6 .
Colne travel the short distance to Pendle Phoenix for the last game of the 2012 season tomorrow.