Clifton put in powerful performance

We completed our their first double of the season over high flying Ampthill with a confident display full of intensity ii a game where they had dominance in all aspects of the game

Ampthill travelled to Bristol in heavy driving rain and as they approached the ground the sky’s brightened and rain vanished for the afternoon. They found a perfectly acceptable playing surface and our thanks to Luke and his helpers who worked hard during the week and on Saturday morning to ensure the pitch was clear of surface water.

The match report on our visitors web site describes our sides display as being very good but were critical of their own performance. I would however remind them that that there is a thought that a team only play as well as the opposition allow them to and perhaps this was the case on Saturday.

One of the highlights of what was an excellent game of rugby was the aggressive tackling of the home side in which Fergus Manners which caused the visitors to turn the ball over regularly and stopped them from developing any phase play.

We looked comfortable with ball in hand and the backs with full back James Golledge to the fore found numerous gaps in the visitors defence making several decisive breaks

The visitors are the second leading try scorers in the league but on the day we outscored them by six tries to two which brings our total try tally against them to eleven with Will Pomphrey claiming four.

We showed several changes from the side who performed well at Hartpury prior to Christmas with Ellis Genge a recent duel registered signing with Bristol making his debut at loose head while Rob Penhale made his first start while Pomphrey, Paul Fincken and Ben Purcell returned to the match day squad having recovered having recovered injury.

Winger George Karayiannis and Golledge set up the opening score when they broke down the right hand touchline to give Pomphrey a clear run in to the line in the 9th minute.

The lead was extended when at the end of the first quarter scrumhalf Matt Britton made a solo break from halfway and sprinted untouched to cross under the posts with fly half Charlie Foley converting.

Foley started the build up to the third try when he ran the ball out of defence and Pomphrey made a long run before linking with Karayiannis who crossed under the posts with the fly half adding the extras.

Former Cardiff back row man Maama Mollitikia sparked a revivial at the start of the second half and flanker Darrell Dyer crossed from close range with full back Elliott Clements-Hill converting.

In the 53rd minute Ampthill lost centre Robert Davies and Clifton immediately took advantage of the extra man when No 8 Hugo Govett went over from a close range scrum to claim the bonus point try.

Fincken showed his desire to be a back when he went over in the corner after a passing move with Foley converting.

Genge and visitors replacement prop Sam Walsh were sent to the bin with 10 minutes remaining and Pomphrey dived over for his second try of the afternoon.

The visitors had the final say when winger Johnny went over with a couple of minutes remaining,

Clifton stretched their unbeaten home run this season to 8 and with wins against Redruth and Barking at the end of last season takes the tally to ten which equals their previous in national league rugby