Saturday 15th March 2008
Clifton 22 - 22 Cinderford
It was a wet pitch after 18 hours of rain but bright conditions that greeted the two sides at kick off. The Clifton side showed just three changes, one positional, with Andy Bell replacing Barney Kent in the centre and Rob Viol coming onto one wing where he was joined by Same Kent who came in for Ollie Sills. The forwards were unchanged for the third successive game.
The early stages saw much arial ping pong with the Clifton kicking looking the more assured however Cinderford soon set up position in the Clifton half. Two penalty lineout drives were well defended and excellent defence in the backs prevented any Cinderford threat. The visitors scrum was on top of the Clifton eight however and the good guys struggled to clear their lines. This was the way the game carried on for much of the remainder of the first quarter until a good break by Gregg Setherton took the ball up to the Cinderford ‘22’. A penalty was won and JB slotted the kick for a Clifton lead.
This was quickly followed by the first Clifton try. Cinderford knocked on at a lineout on halfway, one of their few handling errors through the game. John Levis picked up, went blind and linked with Rob Viol who broke clear into the Cinderford ‘22’ where he passed inside to Donovan Hall who scored.
The next try followed soon after. The visitors had a scrum deep in the Clifton ‘22’ after a knock on. The initial thrust was well defended and as Greenaway, the Cinderford 10 looked to pass to the backs the alert Rob Viol picked off the pass to run 80 metres to score. JB added the conversion.
It was on the half hour mark that saw the third Clifton try. The backs were cutting through the Cinderford defence and this time it was Gregg Setherton who made the initial incision and he passed wide to Rob Viol to add his second try and with a second JB conversion Clifton were now 22 points ahead.
The visitors were stung by this onslaught but recovered their composure as the rain returned. The got back into Clifton territory and got on the scoreboard with a score from a 5 metre scrum by no.8 George Evans.
Half time Clifton 22 Cinderford 5
The second half started badly for Clifton. There was knock on soon after the kick off and then Cinderford forced a turnover just outside the Clifton ‘22’. A penalty was conceded which was converted by Trigg. From here, Cinderford set up camp in the Clifton half. The ball was barely moved beyond 10, indeed even the scrum half rarely saw the ball but the Clifton defence was outstanding.
The first Cinderford score in the half came strangely after Clifton had relieved the pressure and made it into the visitors half. A long kick out of defence by Greenaway was well chased up and as Clifton dithered turned over the ball and quick support saw the try scored by McNeil. This try was followed up by a second for McNeil after another long lasting driving maul although Clifton will argue the jack Steadman, on as a second half replacement, had his arms under the ball. This time Trigg made the conversion.
The crucial decision though happened at the other end of the pitch. Gregg Setherton again led a Clifton break out. Quick ruck ball was won and as Tom Lambert drove for the line it appeared that he had just made it to the line. The referee disagreed though and awarded Clifton a penalty for not releasing by the tackler. Clifton had several frantic attempts to score but eventually the ball was cleared.
The remaining minutes again saw Cinderford squeezing the driving maul but making next to no progress against a resolute defence.
This was a magnificent effort by the Clifton side who again looked a far better unit than the league position suggests. But for the change in weather conditions and a couple of decisions we could have been celebrating a well won victory against a top side. The two points will be gratefully received though and will help in the fight against relegation. This continues with the trip to fellow battlers Barking on Saturday 29th March. It promises to be quite a game.
The Musets MotM was scrum half Donovan Hall. This was only Donnie’s third game back since he suffered a knee injury back in September and he again showed us what we have been missing all season.
Clifton scorers: Tries: Hall, Viol 2; Conversions: Barnes 2. Penalty: Barnes
Clifton Team: Raines, Mace, White, Smith, Barry, Lambert (Capt), Hardy, Levis, Hall, Barnes, Kent S, Viol, Leonard, Bell, Setherton.
Reps: Steadman (for White 62), Walker (for Smith 71), Burgess (for Raines 62), Sacco.
While we remain 13th in the table we are now within reach of North Walsham and Barking. Games to come include Barking next time out. This is followed by the home game when we host Bridgwater and then the final game at Havant. It promises to be an exciting run in!
MRW