With teams in the lower half of the table bunched together, serious interest is building in gaining points on offer. Expectations of a close game between these two sides remained throughout the opening quarter, with the one try coming from Clifton.

However, the middle phases of the encounter saw the Tykes dominate proceedings and the scoreboard with some creative play, slick handling at speed and the ability to accept all chances.

In the opening moments, Clifton had confidence, momentum and territory and should have used opportunities to greater effect. They forced penalties, but their only score came from a fluent move sending winger Tom Hargan into the corner.

As the game progressed, the Tykes gained more of the play with both full back Kieran Davies and winger Charlie Venables constant threats. Slick handling sent Davies over with the constantly threatening Venables, the beneficiary of a break by fellow winger and Sale Sharks loanee Seb Krippner.

Clifton probably kicked away too much possession, and kick tennis did little to advance either team. Lock Seth Eley latched on to an opportunity, with fly half Eddie Crossland landing the first of two conversions to open up a good half time lead.

Pete Seabourne, Leeds Director of Rugby, was highly satisfied with his charges in achieving the five points they were targeted to bring home. “Clifton were an organised team and dominated early exchanges. Our back line performed well throughout and created the pressure to create well taken chances at high tempo.”

The Clifton cause was not helped by a succession of injuries to key players causing the balance of the team to be disrupted. Losing influential fly half Tom Quinlan and flanker Jay Evans at the same time did not help. The further loss of prop Armani Symonds and centre Will Owen added to the misfortune.

They did show a sound resurgence in the closing moments. Replacement forward Freddie Myatt rampaged across and further pressure in search of a try bonus point resulted in hooker Tom Anderson crossing, with replacement Ollie Millner converting both scores.

Before that period, a second Venables try came after pressure had produced Clifton mistakes and quick release of ball led to prop Will Dennis scoring.

Clifton enjoyed a stronger end to the afternoon, but too late to challenge the lead as they started to restore some continuity and confidence; the Yorkshiremen were deserved winners.

Roger Opie

WANDERERS 28 - 27 BRIDGWATER & ALBION

Late Drama as Home Side Edge Bridgwater 28–27

A thrilling contest packed with momentum swings and late drama saw the home side edge Bridgwater 28–27, with Harry Delaney’s flawless kicking and game control proving the decisive factor.

The match started brightly, and it was Max McCarthy who opened the scoring in the 7th minute, producing a superb individual effort to cross the line. Harry Delaney calmly added the conversion to give the hosts a 7–0 lead and set the tone early.

Bridgwater responded strongly. A try in the corner on 27 minutes reduced the gap to 7–5, before further tries on 29 and 39 minutes saw the visitors take control heading into the break with a 15–7 advantage.

The second half began with renewed energy from the home side, sparked by the return of Chris Packer, whose impact was immediate. On 48 minutes, Packer powered over for a crucial try, with Delaney again converting to close the gap to a single point at 14–15.

Bridgwater struck back on 63 minutes with a converted try to stretch their lead to 20–14, setting up a tense final quarter. The response was emphatic. Packer crossed for his second try on 69 minutes, and Delaney’s perfect record from the tee continued as the hosts edged back in front at 21–20.

The decisive moment came on 75 minutes. After some lovely footwork, Chris Packer broke the line and released Ollie Spragg, who finished clinically for the try. Delaney coolly slotted the conversion to make it 28–20.

There was still time for late drama, as Bridgwater scored again on 78 minutes to narrow the score to 28–27, but the home side held their nerve in the closing moments to secure a hard-fought victory.

Man of the Match went to Harry Delaney for his outstanding control of the game and a crucial 100% success rate from the tee. Special mention must also go to Chris Packer, whose return to action was marked by an outstanding all-round performance, two tries, and a key assist in a memorable win.

MISFITS 31 - 31 ST BRENDAN'S OLD BOYS

The Misfits made the short trip to local rivals St Brendan’s Old Boys at the Portway Centre looking to extend an impressive Counties 4 run, having secured a record-breaking third successive league win over 1st XV opposition the previous week against Bishopston.

Games between these two sides are always close quarter, tight affairs and this match proved no different.

Preparation for Clifton was far from ideal. A lengthy injury list and call-ups to the 2nds forced further changes, though Head Coach Mark Nichols was able to welcome back hooker Ross Jaffray and prop Kinny Qumar. League debuts were handed to second row George Da Vall and centre Corey Kislingbury, while veteran prop Brian Miller took his place on the bench, the 55-year-old setting a new club age record for the Lavender and Blacks.

St Brendan’s struck first on 12 minutes, capitalising on a spilled ball from a kick over the top to cross for an unconverted try (5–0). The hosts extended their lead at the end of the first quarter, a clean line-out providing the platform for a well-drilled driving maul to rumble over, the conversion making it 12–0.

The Misfits created chances but lacked the final pass, repeatedly threatening without reward. Their persistence was finally rewarded on the stroke of half-time. After sustained pressure, Ryley Murtagh reacted quickest to a loose ball at a ruck on the hosts’ line to dot down, sending the sides in at the break with St Brendan’s leading 12–5.

Brendan’s again started sharply, crossing on 52 minutes for a converted try that stretched the advantage to 19–5, just as the visitors were beginning to build momentum.

A lengthy stoppage followed a serious injury to a St Brendan’s player. Medical staff, paramedics and the Air Ambulance were called, and in agreement with both teams and the referee the match was moved to another pitch for the final 20 minutes.

The disruption proved costly for the Misfits as they lost Second row Louis Birch to a yellow card. The hosts quickly exploiting the extra man, scoring from a midfield break a minute later to push the score to 24–5.

The response, however, was immediate. Substitute Clifton Colts winger Isaac Simmonds made a blistering 70-yard surge from his first involvement, setting up flanker Ravi Gedara to power over on 64 minutes (24–10). Any hope seemed extinguished when Brendan’s replied again on 67 minutes with a converted score out wide, moving 31–10 ahead with time running out.

The comeback…

What followed was extraordinary.

With the home pack visibly tiring, the Misfits found another gear and on 71 minutes Birch atoned for his earlier sin-bin, crashing over under the posts, fly-half Jake Wakeling converting to make it 31–17.

Four minutes later came the try of the match. Simmonds collected possession deep inside his own half and scorched through from 60 yards in a superb solo effort. Wakeling’s conversion reduced the deficit to seven at 31–24 and set up a breathless finale.

Brendan’s could not stem the tide. Wave after wave of Lavender and Black pressure followed, and on 77 minutes flanker Ian Bentall pounced on a ball spilled backwards over the hosts’ line, racing under the posts for his first Clifton try. Wakeling’s third conversion in quick succession completed a remarkable 21 unanswered points in under eight minutes and levelled the scores at 31–31.

Full time: 31–31

The Misfits claimed a draw and a valuable try bonus point on the road, extending their unbeaten start to 2026 in dramatic fashion.

The team nature of the comeback made individual honours difficult. Birch, Gedara and Bentall all impressed, while half-backs Will Abel and Wakeling expertly steered the late surge. Ultimately, however, the impact of the replacements proved decisive, and game-changing substitute Isaac Simmonds was named Thatcher’s Man of the Match after creating one try and scoring another with electric pace and incisive running.

Clifton would like to thank St Brendan’s for hosting the post-match proceedings and wish their injured player a speedy recovery.

After an epic contest, the Misfits take a well-earned break before returning to Station Road to host Aretians in the Valentine’s Day clash.

Tries:
Murtagh, Gedara, Birch, Bentall
Cons:
Wakeling (3)

Photographs by Ian Clark