Having beaten three of the 2022 competition last four teams in this cup en route to this final, conceding just 4 tries enroute, the team were in confident (but nervous) mood prior to taking on Gordano at North Bristol RFC in front of a sizeable crowd.

After a last-minute venue change due to the potential of waterlogged pitches, the game kicked off late afternoon, to perfectly coincide with the arrival of wind and rain which Clifton chose to utilise in the first half with it behind their backs. With a lot of talk on defence beforehand, the match didn’t start to plan, with Gordano running in an early interception try to take a five-point lead.

With the outstanding results this group has produced this season, the boys’ heads stayed high and the team dominated territory for much of the first half. The pressure started to tell and after a clearing kick from the Gordano 22, full back Alex Cleary picked the ball up, kicked over the covering defence to out pace a number of defenders and touch down.

The team continued to pressure the opposition try line, resulting in numerous penalties and eventually leading to 3 further first half tries with two from flanker Michael Whittaker and a touch down from second row Kaelan Hawkes. Turning around at the half, Clifton had a 24-5 lead with the successful conversations added by Joe Bagley Mott but knowing the second half would be a battle with the conditions as they were.

The second half was a more even contest playing into a strong wind. The defence was immense at times with the team refusing to give an inch in the tackle and pulling together to keep Gordano to nil in the second half despite their advantage with the weather.

With time running out, the forwards and backs combined to save the best of the scores till last. Collecting the ball in the Clifton 22, Freddy Thomas beat a number of chasing defenders to link up with the back line and eventually Michael Whittaker again, who raced half the pitch for his third and Clifton’s final try, to leave the final score 31-5 and Clifton u15’s as BJC Champions 2023.

An amazing achievement from the whole squad, rightly celebrated with Dominoes largest pizza order this year!