Clifton lose out at Shelford

We travelled to Shelford hoping to bring to an end our 5 match losing sequence away from home.

The starting line up showed 8 changes from the side which started against Dings one of which was positional.

Sam Evans came in at hooker to make his first start of the season while Ciaran Driscoll a utility back who recently joined the club from Cross Keys appeared on the bench.

Shelford who always provide tough opposition came into the game off a 3 match losing sequence looking to get their season back on track.

The first half was evenly contested with the home leading 12 – 6 at the break but unfortunately the raced away after the break to inflict our heaviest defeat of the season to date.

We started the game well and created some early chances which we managed to fritter away. We did go in front after 5 minutes when outside half Brad Barnes slotted over a penalty.

The home forwards slowly achieved the ascendancy in the forward battle which gave them the edge in the forward exchanges.

A break by back row man Rupert Ransom created the chance for the dangerous winger Steve Smith to cross after 11 minutes with fly half Elliot Bale converting.

A couple of surges by No 8 Hugo Govett looked dangerous but eventually came to nothing.

Just before the break centre James Golledge was sent to the bin and while he was off the field Bale crossed for an unconverted try. Barnes kept Clifton in the game with his second on the stroke of half time.

At the start of the second half Bale grabbed his second try when he chipped over the home defensive line before gathering the ball on the bounce and racing 30 meters to score a try he also converted.

Two minutes later the impressive Smith who was a constant threat to our defence squeezed over in the corner for the for the bonus point try. Bale landed the conversion.

Govett and prop Adam Ledner battled away to keep us in the game on the hour when after a series of line out drives we took play the posts with Evans scoring a try converted by Barnes

We then enjoyed our best period of the game causing the home defence problems. The siege was broken when Smith broke away from close to his own line and made 40 meters before off-loading to centre Will Lawson who scored under the posts with Bale converting.

Scrum half Charlie Baker always manages to score against us and managed to cross twice in the closing stages with Bale converting one to take his match tally to 20 points.

Sandwiched between Baker’s tries was a solo effort which made the score line more respectable

We still remain in the top half of the table but our next run of fixtures starting next week when we entertain Redruth will test us.

The players will be pleased that with the exception of a spring trip to Cornwall and a January excursion to Bishops Stortford we have completed all journeys in excess of a round trip of 300 miles.