The Wanderers struck early with a try from Ed Grinsted, assisted and converted by Will Joyce. Burnham-on-Sea responded with a penalty, but Clifton extended their lead with tries from James Tayler and Jack Bowyer before halftime, Joyce converting both, making it 21-3.

In the second half, Jordan Brew scored from the back of a well worked lineout maul, and Jack Perrins added a final try to bring the final score to 31-3.

Jamie Collier earned Man of the Match for his industrious debut at number 8. The Wanderers will be pleased with their performance as they look to build on this strong start.

Misfits 19-40 Ashley Down OBs 1s

The eagerly anticipated season opener brought together the Clifton Misfits and the formidable Ashley Down Old Boys on a sweltering Saturday afternoon at Clifton Rugby Club.

Following an impressive pre-season campaign, the Misfits were keen to kick off the league with a strong performance, despite knowing the challenge posed by their well-established opponents.

The match began energetically, with both sides up for the fight and displaying exceptional speed on the ball. The Misfits looked promising during the opening ten minutes, moving the ball fluidly and threatening Ashley Down's defensive line. However, a series of penalties gifted possession to Ashley Down, allowing them to edge into enemy territory.
As the away team took control, Misfits' tackling work became frustratingly high, and men slipped through like prized Atlantic salmon through the paws of a malnourished grizzly bear.

The Old Boys capitalised on this momentum, with their heavy-set forwards charging down the pitch like a stampede of bulls. The tide began to turn dramatically as Ashley Down seized control. Their powerful forwards were breaking through the Misfits’ defence, exploiting gaps around the rucks and the opposition slipped through and scored three tries before half-time.

The atmosphere on the sideline turned tense, though Clifton did manage to muster a solitary try in response, but Ashley Down were comfortable at the break.

The second half saw the Misfits regroup and refocus their efforts and rise from the flames of a potential drubbing like a phoenix.

With renewed purpose and much improved tackling, they worked to implement a more disciplined defensive strategy, tackling lower and with greater conviction.
The lifting spirits of the team and the roaring encouragement from their supporters ignited a fire in their bellies.

Clifton’s perseverance bore fruit when tries started to come their way. The home side started to keep possession and move the ball wide which opened up opportunities across the pitch.

The second try came when Lucas Spindler, with sheer tenacity and the momentum of a lengthy hog, surged through the defenders to score a spectacular try. His deft footwork and explosive pace electrified the crowd.

Soon, a third try added fire to the flames of hope and brought the score to 19-28. Clifton fought fiercely and started to stare down the barrel at a couple of losing bonus points.

However, despite the glimmer of hope, the gap was too wide for the Misfits to close, as Ashley Down answered back with relentless aggression, ending the game at 40-19.

The clash exemplified the strength of their rivals, but Clifton’s resolve promises a bright future as they look ahead to the rest of the season.

Tries: Davies, Spindler, Parmenter
Cons: Lang W (2)

Thatchers Man of the Match: George Marron