Clifton second half defeats Taunton

This was a game of two distinct halves was an excellent advert for rugby at National League level two which keep the fair sized crowd entertained from start to finish.

We took an early lead when fly half Charlie Foley kicked a second minute penalty but from then on until the break Taunton playing some excellent rugby were in control. Scrum half Stuart Townsend produced a number of devastating breaks which at times had the home defence at sixes and sevens. At the interval we looked dead and buried at the break trailing by fourteen points but we reckoned without the desire to maintain our unbeaten home run.

Showing pride and desire combined with effort and work rate we produced a second half display which was described by regular supporters as the best rugby seen at Cribbs Causeway for many a year, We scored twenty unanswered points as we ran out winners and stretched our unbeaten home run to fourteen.

Clifton were forced to reorganize their line up minutes before the kick off when Nick Carpenter injured in the warm up. Brad Barnes moved off the bench with George Karayiannis coming on the bench. This meant a re-organisation to the back division. We made a good start with a Foley penalty. Townsend then took control driving Taunton forwards. Full back Gary Kingdom levelled the scores at the end of the first quarter and immediately Townsend raced past many defenders in a twisting run to score a try We were then forced into making another change when Charley Foley left the field having received a knock minutes earlier. Barnes moved into the 10shirt.

In a rare attack we narrowed the gap when No 8 Hugo Govett went over from close range after a powerful but rare forward drive.

Townsend took a quick tap penalty and raced past several defenders to score in the corner but the try went unconverted.

The visiting halves then began to expose our back three with some clever kicking and as the end of the half approached centre Tom Preece struggled to clear his lines. His clearance was charged down and centre Matt Popham went over for a try converted by Kingdom to bring the curtain down on an exhilarating first half.

I do not know what was said in the changing room at the break but we looked a different side at the after the break. James Stephenson was introduced in place of Henry Mace. Slowly we upped the pace of our play using our driving forwards to make metres round the fringes. Eventually hooker Paul Fincken was driven over the line for a try which Barnes converted. We were quicker to the breakdown and more physical in the tackle. We dominated possession and when pressure forced the visitors to concede a penalty Barnes was on target.

Pressure was maintained and our third try came when we took play to the corner and Ben Foley went over with Barnes kicking the conversion to put us in front. Barnes stretched the lead to six points .

Our visitors staged a late revival keeping us penned close to the line in the final stages but our discipline and resolve held them at bay until the final whistle.

We remain in fourth position but have played along with Hartpury all our games scheduled to date. All other clubs have at least one game in hand so the position could change.

I n two weeks time we have a week end off and I will use that as an opportunity to detail the outstanding games.