Clifton back to winning ways

We were deserved winners of this keenly contested in which eight tries were shared between the sides.

We dominated the opening and closing periods of the game while our visitors were in control in middle period.

The difference between the sides as the place kicking of our fly half James Mackay was successful with six out of seven attempts at the posts collecting fifteen points in total.

Our intentions were clearly shown when the pace of centre Lucas Slowick and the guile of Mackay who put winger Will Pomphrey over for an unconverted try in the corner.

The lead was extended when a line out and the Clifton pack drove towards the line and hooker Rupert Freestone touched down for a converted try.

Our visitors are well known for their willingness to play free flowing support rugby and their skill in off loading and slowly they began to put us under pressure.

Their reward came when winger John Neville who had a spell with us last season crossed under the posts with scrum half Tom Banks converted.

Shortly afterwards flanker Ben Purcell was sinned binned for pulling down a Stortford maul as they drove towards the line.

We were put under pressure being a man down and only conceded during this period when full back Nick Hankin found his way over the line for a try which levelled the scores.

The lead was short-lived as Mackay put us back in front as the interval approached with a penalty,

The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges of the second half but Mackay was able to extend our lead penalty.

Stortford pressure ended when their pack exerted pressure on the home line and referee David Hudson awarded a penalty try to which Banks added the extras which put them in front.

Swiftly Mackay replied a penalty.

Clifton were again reduced to fourteen men when on the hour Max Cresswell was sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle

This gave Stortford the chance to score their bonus point try when flanker Richard Gill crossed following a driving maul.

Scrum half Mitch Spencer began to impose himself on the action and Clifton took control for the final quarter..

We went back in front when we launched a handling attack and with the visitors tiring Lock Joe Quinn made his way to the line with Mackay converting.

Our bonus point try was scored by centre Dan Wells when Stortford’s defence were unable to gather the loose ball as it bounced backwards under the posts.

Mackay landed the conversion