Cents Sent Packing By Blistering Wanderers

Clifton 2nds 67 - 0 Old Centralians 2nds

The Wanderers maintained their 100% start to the GRFU Premier Reserve League and top the table with a decisive and impressive victory over Old Centralians.
With the victorious 1st XV in action the previous evening in Bristol derby against Dings a fair crowd gathered to view the next generation of talent the club has to offer. Amongst the crowd were Director of Rugby Darren Lloyd and former president Norman Golding.
Clifton went into the fixture with eyes wide open noting their opponents early season win over Dings Crusaders and it was obvious in the open exchanges that Cents were clearly capable of a physical encounter.
The opening 15mins brought no quarter for either side until some ill-discipline by the visitors allowed centre and tops point scorer Luke Blizzard to notch the first 3 of his 22 points haul for the afternoon.
Centralians misfortune persisted as they failed to convert a penalty after Clifton’s tacklers were deemed not to rolling away.
Clifton’s scrum was in the ascendancy when just after 24mins Scrum-half George Thomas barrelled over between the posts.
Wanderers top try scorer Mike Cross soon snuck away from the defence to run in the first of his hat-trick for the afternoon taking his season tally to 10 tries in five games.
With half time looming Blizzard himself turned the screw with another penalty from range to take the home side into the break 17 points clear.
As the weather cleared the second half’s action accelerated in a blistering fashion. Free running No.8 Fergus Manners cast all a side to score after some great support play. Manner’s was joined swiftly on the score sheet by his back row counterpart Max Woodward who gunned over after some great link play with the backs.
New signing Corey Barlow made it a clean sweep for the Clifton back row as he took advantage of a gap in the line and ran in from 35 yards.
As the flood gates opened and Clifton found their now infamous fourth gear center Jack Watters redeemed himself after an earlier butchered effort to score neatly in the corner.
Credit to Cents who persistently harried the Clifton forwards up front only to lose a player to the bin for a deliberate knock on in the late stages.
A late brace of scores from Cross and a 50 yard effort from Blizzard himself sealed a strong victory over what some league commentators were calling a ‘dark horse’ opponent.
A satisfied Clifton side looked aggressive up front and devastating out wide. There were stand out performance from new prop Aaron Doignie, Cross and Manners, however the coaching staff settled on second row Rob Penhale as m-o-m after a gritty display at the break down. Penhale received his Clifton Sausage M-O-M award from former club president Mr Norman Golding.
Final score 67-0. The Wanderers march on.

Next week Matson away in the first of Gloucester road trips.