Clifton squeeze past Chinnor

Scrum half Matt Britton making only his second start of the season was the inspiration of our deserved victory over a battling Chinnor outfit.

The lead changed hand on 6 occasions and there was never a difference of more than one score between the two sides.

At a windswept Cribbs Causeway conditions were difficult enough without the occasional heavy rain shower after the break .

Britton was in the thick of the action throughout the game keeping his pack on the front foot as he dictated his sides tactics as well as making some telling breaks.

It was a man of the match performance but James Stephenson pushed him hard for this accolade with a storming display on a rare outing at No 8 following his return after a two week break foe injury. He impressed with his powerful ball carrying in the loose as well as his hard work in defence where his tackle count was high. We also went into the game with no recognised second row but Josh Goddard and Tom O’Keeffe worked hard throughout achieving parity at line out time.

Clifton had first use of the wind and took an early lead when following a clean take at the line out a drive from the twenty two took play to the Chinnor line and Britton nipped down the side of the maul to score with fly half Brad Barnes adding the extras.

Chinnor came backed with some good play and we lost full back Augoy Slowik to the bin after 8 minutes for an alleged deliberate knock on. Centre Will Millett kicked the resultant penalty to open Chinnor ‘s account.

Despite the poor conditions both sides were prepared to move the ball wide and as the sin bin period was coming to an end winger Joe Marston went over with Millett adding the extras.

Slowik marked his return to the action when he was involved in a flowing back move which was stopped on the visitors line and repeated his feat from Bishop Stortford game when he went over from a maul.

We were back in front but the lead was short lived as Millett landed his second penalty on the half hour.

Britton kept his pack going forward and the reward came when he went over from close range with Barnes conversion being the last action of the half.

Chinnor dominate the opening exchanges after the break and after 48 minutes scrum half Frank Jones scampered over with Millett converting to give his side a point lead.

Clifton then introduced newcomer Cameron Jeffery after 52 minutes and within 10 minutes the young winger proved his worth when he raced after a kick ahead outstripping the defenders to touch down for the decisive bonus point try.
Jeffery looks to be a more than useful addition to the set of backs we are establishing at Cribbs Causeway.

The visitors had one opportunity to retake the lead when they had a series of scrums under the Clifton’s post and thought they should be awarded a penalty try but instead the referee awarded a penalty and our lines were cleared.

Clifton then introduced props Adam Ledner and Tom McDonough from the bench and almost immediately our pack took control as we played our best rugby of the game in the final quarter.

This win lifted us to 4th place in the table a point behind Canterbury. The Kent side have won a game less than us but their attacking potency has seen them collect 9 bonus points of which 6 are for scoring 4 or more tries in a game.

Next Saturday we visit Taunton who we beat last season when John Levis with the final score of the game in the final action of the game.