Clifton recorded their fifth successive victory and, once again, took maximum points from a game to maintain their second place in the league table alongside Taunton in the pursuit of table topping Camborne.

Having established a twelve-point lead over the students the referee dispatched two Clifton players to the sin bin in quick succession leaving them with thirteen players for a period either side of the interval. Their superior numbers created spaces for the home team to get back in the game and take the lead. However Clifton’s greater experience and game management skills were critical in achieving the final result.

Clifton were forced into further re-grouping in the second half when one of the yellows was upgraded to a red card with a further yellow awarded in the final quarter to again reduce them to thirteen players . This created a tense final part of the action with Clifton showing control and determination to hold on.

Early probing by both teams saw the students take the lead with a converted try before Freddie Myatt broke through to enable Zak Hamid to skip through the defence. Henry Harper, returning from absence from concussion, replaced the injured Shay Sainsbury. Some good play and a rolling maul sent hooker Tom Anderson over with Tom Quinlan landing the first of four successful conversions against his former university.

The Clifton pack were getting on top and following a dominant period Brad Talbot, another returning stalwart, scored to create a twelve-point lead. The university men took advantage of the space available through superior numbers and ran in two tries and open up a two-point lead.

Back to full strength the lavender and black pack pushed Loughborough off their own ball and the ball was released for centre Will Owen to force his way over the white paste to re-establish the lead. Again reduced numbers allowed Loughborough to catch up and bring the scores level.

The final critical score was touched down by prop Ricky Cano crashing over; the thirteen players did well to withstand an extremely tense final few minutes .

Story: Roger Opie
Photo: Wyn Tingley