Clifton overpower Exmouth

Prior to this game a lunch was held to mark the retirement from the post of Treasurer at the end of the club’s financial year after forty seven years service of Keith “Scattercash” Bonham. Presentations were made to him by the President of the RFU Bob Reeves and also the club President John Raine. A further presentation was made to Allan Moore who joined the club as a squash player and went on to act as Maintenance Manager until he retired just over twelve months ago.

To mark the occasion we ran in three tries in each half as we extended are unbeaten home league to fifteen wins.

Our side showed several changes from our last outing with Will Pomphrey and James Golledge returning to the starting line after missing several games through injury. On the bench it was nice to see Mike Westlake return to the first team squad having been out of action for twelve months with an ankle injury while the ever youthful Andy Bell warmed the bench before enjoying action for the final quarter.

We have after this result recorded victories over every side in the league with the exception of Shelford who we entertain in a fortnights time.

Exmouth did not look like a bottom of the table club as under the guidance of scrum half Garry Hooper they showed a willingness to attempt to play some open and entertaining rugby. Unfortunately as their coach Jon Hill said after the game they were prone to concede possession easily and on the day conceded a number of soft tries. He was also disappointed with his side’s overall team performance in the opening hour but considered they upped their display in the final quarter , He also sang the praises of Clifton who he thought played well creating some good opportunities especially in the wider channels.

Our Director of Rugby Darren Lloyd had a different take on the game describing our performance as workman like but falling well below the standards we reached against Bournemouth and Taunton. He felt we were well below par lacking physicality, accuracy and focus but we did manage score six tries.

We looked sharp in the opening exchanges with fly half constantly moving the ball wide to stretch the visitors defence and it was no surprise when Pomphrey burst through to score a try with Barnes kicking the first of his five conversions. Exmouth controlled territorially for a period but they never looked like crossing the line and their reward came when full back Rob Avery-Wright landed a fifteen penalty. After twenty minutes Barnes again exposed the wide spaces and Pomphrey crossed in the
corner,

A third try came on the half hour when our forwards kept the visitors penned close to their own line and eventually lock Mariano Sambucetti drove over for a converted try.

At the start of the second half Hooper broke out of defence from close to his line and leaving defenders in his wake gave flanker Dave Bargent an easy run in with Avery-Wright converting.

Immediately Clifton responded with flanker Joe Lovell crossing for a converted try which earned the try bonus point.

The try of the game was scored in the fiftieth minute when Ellis Genge playing out of position as a flanker made a break from close to his own line and leaving several defenders in his wake before reaching halfway and passing to Golledge who crossed wide out Barnes’s conversion attempt into the teeth of a strong wind flew wide of the posts.

Our final try was scored on the hour when replacement scrum half Matt Britton went over from close range with Barnes landing his fifth conversion.

Hill then emptied his replacements bench and the resultant changes lifted the performance of the visitors and then became more lively scored through centre Mark Wathes and replacement back Ross Morshead with George Meadows kicking one conversion.

Britton was sent to the sin bin as the game went into the final minutes.

Forecast time

After this result we remain in fourth in the league and with games running out will find it difficult to progress up the table. Hartpury have a hard run in as they only club in the top five they do not have to play is ourselves. Canterbury are currently second
but have played a game more than the Students and Ampthill. Hartpury are seven point lead and I would anticipate taking the automatic promotion position and Ampthill the runners up spot.

Exmouth are already relegated while Bournemouth are thirteen points adrift from the third from bottom club who are Dings Launceston , Chinnor, Redruth and London Irish WG are also in the frame. Dings and Redruth have played one game more than the others. My tip to go down would be Redruth whose remaining four games are all against clubs in the top four.