Clifton just beat the Reds

A huge sigh of relief went round the ground at the final whistle as our losing sequence stretching came to an end with a battling victory over Redruth.

It was a unusual game with both sides enjoying periods of dominance with the final result only being decided with a determined by Clifton in the final quarter,

For once we had a dream start. Facing the wind Redruth ‘s full back Ashley Hosking’s kick off kick failed to go ten metres and we took the opportunity to run the ball back with the ball reaching full back Will Pomphrey who raced down the touch line passed several defenders to touch down wide out. The try must be one of the quickest we have ever scored was timed at twelve seconds. Fly half Charlie Foley added the extras with a fine quick from the touch line.

Scrum half Andy Uren moved from Cinderford during the week took advantage of an error by visiting centre Murray Westren slipped and lost possession as he tried to clear his lines. Uren seized the loose ball and raced twenty two metres to touch down close to the posts. Foley added the extras and we were fourteen points in front after five minutes.

After thirteen minutes another debutant winger Peter Homan was after a lengthy delay carried off on a stretcher with a leg injury. He was replaced by Luke Blizzard.

Redruth were conceding a number of penalties especially at scrum time and Foley was successful with two kicks which put us twenty points clear.

The visitor main attacking weapon is their forwards. Locks Luke Collins and Damien Cook excelled at line time and prop Tom Phillips was a powerhouse in the loose. They produced a series of text book driving mauls which were a credit to their coaching staff. Clifton struggled to contain these drives and Phillip a youngster attracting the attention of Worcester touched on the half hour and hooker Richard Brown followed suite on the stroke of half time. Hosking’s added the extras.

Redruth continued in the same vein after the break and Clifton third debutant. No 8 Ali Bone was sent to the sin bin for repeat offences on the try line. Redruth took advantage of the man advantage launching a power maul close to the try line which Clifton illegally stopped for being offside and referee Dan Parrott awarded a penalty try which Hosking converted. The pressure from Redruth continued and Hosking put his side in front when he landed a close range penalty.

An outstanding run by winger Jordan Kelly changed the direction of the game when he made seventy five metres from close to his own line before the move broke. This seem to act as an inspiration to Clifton who raised their game with some effective running from their backs and their forwards work putting the visitors under pressure. Particularly effective was the line out work of Gavin Curry. The only escape route for the visitors was the kicking of scrum half Greg Goodfellow.

Pomphrey and centre Lucas Slowik went close for Clifton before Foley found a gap in the visitors defence just after the hour to touch down for a try he also converted. Clifton were back in front by less than a score.

Clifton were now in control as both sides went in search of the vital score and with five minutes remaining Clifton appeared to lose an opportunity to score when they ran a penalty in front of the posts and the move broke down. Redruth had reoffended and Foley took Clifton clear with a penalty which took his tally for the afternoon to twenty.

With players returning from injury and the recruitment of a couple of bulky forwards Clifton now have a bulky pack and a decent set of backs and with this win can look to climb the table.

Next Saturday we travel to Shelford looking to avenge a home defeat earlier in the season by a point. Conditions at this time of year are usually wet at this time of year so it could be a forward dominated game. Wins are a rarity at Shelford.