Clifton on top in local derby

Friday night rugby again proved a hit when a large partisan crowd gathered at Cribbs Causeway to watch our clash with Dings.

Interestingly at least half the players involved in the game have never played in the local derby.

The sides have different philosophies on how the game should be played which makes for an interesting clash in styles.

Dings are more confrontational and uncompromising with their direct physical while we have a more fluid approach to the game.

Our visitors are having a difficult season and coach Alex Guest were hoping to break a 2 match losing run.

His side made a dream start when from a line out the ball was driven towards and prop Josh Lloyd touched down for a try converted by full back Mark Woodrow.

Our coaching staff must have a concern about this score as the second home game on the trot when the opposition have touched down in the opening couple of minutes.

After the early score we kept our neighbours penned in their half but the opening exchanges were fiercely contested which lead to a string of penalties being awarded especially against our neighbours.

Eventually the referee lost his patience and centre Sam Cox was sent to the bin while fly half Charlie Foley kicked the resultant penalty to reduce the lead.

Cox was followed to the bin by flanker Stean Williams within a couple of minutes and Dings were forces to play with 13 men for 8 minutes.

The only conceded once in this period when Centre Dave Massey chose an exquisite which took him to the line for a try Foley converted to give them the lead.

This was short-lived as Woodrow landed a penalty.

We had weathered the early Dings onslaught and our pack with Steve Uren to the fore with his defensive qualities and began to impose our game plan with some excellent ball carrying from James Stephenson and Joe Quinn .

We also established authority at the break down while our line out functioned well. The only area where Dings could claim to have the upper hand.

Our backs ran with purpose and when an attack made ground down the right side flank with the ball going through several pairs of hands before winger Will Pomphrey touched down with Foley converting,

Dings started well at the beginning of the second half when following a series of close range scrums we driven back over our own line with scrum half Steve Plummer touching down and Woodrow adding the extras.

The score were level but suddenly prop Charlie Bullimore imposed himself on the game with a powerful run passed several defenders and when stopped close to the line full back Augy Slowik dived over from close range with a pile of players on top of him with half an hour to go. Foley added the extras

Cox, Woodrow and fly half Mitch Burton tried desperately in the time remaining to time to break through our defence but solid tackling kept Dings well away from our line

After the game Darren remarked how pleased he was with our game management , discipline and our scramble defence in the closing stages.

He was pleased to come away with 4 points which keeps us in the top half of the table.