Clifton perform well at Chinnor

The rich vein of form we have had in the last few weeks continued when we became only the third side to win in the league at Chinnor this season. The last occasion when they were beaten at home was way back in last September when both Dorking and Worthing lowered their colours. Since then they have recorded nine successive home wins a run which came to an end last Saturday.

This win lifts us to tenth place in the league and we are now nineteen points clear of the third from bottom club which is Lydney who we face home and away in the next fortnight.

Our starting line up showed several changes with Will Pomphrey returning after injury. and Paul Fincken from illness. George Thomas took the place of the unavailable Andy Uren while Max Woodhead along with Rob Penhale came into the back row.

We must be modelling our game on England with the regularity we concede early points. On this occasion we failed to secure the kick off and Junior Fatulofa forced his way over for a try which fly half Ed Keohane converting.

With our backs and forwards combining well we immediately put the home side under pressure and full back Charlie Foley landed a penalty when they were caught off side. From the restart we took the lead when our centre combination of Danny Wells and Sam Harrison split the home defence and put fly half James Mackay in for a try .

Our backs were posing problems to the home side and our pack was firmly in control up front and on the half hour Mackay after an excellent build up went over for his second try which was converted by Foley.

Then Chinnor enjoyed their best period of the game and winger Reuben Haile crossed in the corner. This was followed by a try scored from close range when prop Guido Cambareri drove over to score. This restored the lead to the home side.

The lead was short lived as Foley kicked his second penalty of the afternoon.

We keep the home side penned deep in their own half for long periods and when our scrummaging power forced them to retreat at a five metre scrum referee Paul Kimber awarded us a penalty try with Foley added the extras.

Our forwards soon tried to re-enact the score Kimber penalised us. This stirred the home side and they took play to our line and No 8 Alfie To’oala forced his way over for a try which Keohane converted.

Pomphrey then stretched the lead when the ball went loose at a ruck and he was quickest to react and gathered the ball and raced half the length to score tour bonus point try which Foley converted to take his points tally for the afternoon to twelve. He also passed the hundred points for the season when he kicked his second penalty.

As the game went into its final stages Chinnor were eight points behind and they had one last flourish when they out flanked our defence and James Tyas went over in the corner.

This was a thoroughly deserved victory by a side which is improving every week. In this game our game management and discipline was much improved over the previous week and our defence was again out of the top drawer.

It was ladies day at Chinnor and they awarded the Clifton Man of Match to Will Pomphrey while they were convinced Lovejoy Chatawama legs were the best on display.

Our side would like to give a special word of thanks to the support from the medical students from Leeds. When we took to the field we were greeted by some tremendous vocal support both in voice and song which continued to the final whistle as well as a banner with our name on which was waive throughout. Lads thanks for your support and we hope the rest of your tour went well