Clifton make it to Combi Cup Final

The long awaited Semi Final of the Charles Saunders Foods Combination Cup took [lace at the Clifton Ground on a pleasant Tuesday evening.

In a highly entertaining game eleven tries were scored as the visitors pushed the National League Two side all the way.

They did not look like a side who on the previous Saturday had suffered a narrow defeat against Weston had been relegated from National League Three. They did not look like a side who had just suffered this fate.

The difference between the sides was the pace and accuracy of the home side while Avonmouth made crucial errors at the wrong time.

Avonmouth however had the man of the match in lock forward Harry Hone who covered every inch of the ground as he impressed in the loose and at line out time. He also scored his sides final try when he crossed in the 66 minute. Hone comes from a well known Avonmouth rugby family with his father enjoying a lengthy at the Memorial Stadium before moving in the early nineties to Clifton who he skippered for 2 seasons and still holds the record for the number of consecutive appearances which stands at 54. He went on to coach Harry in the Juniors at Clifton until both returned to the Barracks Lane club. Wayne managed Avonmouth side until recently when he stepped down from his roles at the club. Harry deservedly represented the Gloucester shire at under 20 level for a couple of seasons

Returning to the game we took the lead after 7 minutes when James Golledge playing in the centre squeezed in at the corner but the visitors took the lead when Charlie Reynolds raced over with skipper Matt Belbie converting.

The lead was short-lived as with Avonmouth pressing Ben Foley intercepted inside his twenty two and raced away for a try under the posts which his brother Charlie converted. Ben is becoming a class act and of his performance on hte night was Clifton,s stasnd out player,

The brothers struck again at the end of the first quarter when Ben kicked ahead and won the chase to the touch down.

Golledge scored his second before Avonmouth scored possibly the best try of the game when fly half Joe Wearne burst through a non existing Clifton defence to put Billy Reynolds in for a try converted by Belbin

Golledge completed his hat trick in injury time to give us a comfortable lead at the break and this was stretched when winger George Karayiannis crossed early in the second half.

The visitors can take credit when No 8 Greg Long touched down as his pack was driven over the line.

Matt Britton missing through injury crossed under the posts for a converted try to complete the home sides scoring.

We now face Dings in the final which is currently scheduled for 8th May at the Memorial Ground sorry I mean Stadium. Dings are a great cup side and should by many be considered favourites. They are still striving to avoid the drop and face a difficult week end at in form Southend and along with any of Redruth, Launceston, Chinnor, and London Irish WG, will be awaiting their fate