Clifton edged out at home by Shelford

Fielding a depleted side who battled hard to the end our fifteen match unbeaten home run has eventually come to an end. It is disappointing we were unable to stretch the run to the end of the season but on the day our visitors were the better side.

Shelford came in search of the win which would take them away from the fringes of the relegation battle.

The visitors had the better of the forward exchanges especially at scrum time when they were driven backwards metres on several occasions.

However the difference between the two sides was the kicking of visiting fly half Elliott Bale who kicked three penalties and a conversion.

Struggling behind our pack No 8 Hugo Govett was outstanding in tiding up ball which enabled us to have the upper hand away from the scrum and as the game was in the final quarter it looked if we might win but the loss of Sam Harrison and Nick Carpenter with injuries with ten minutes remaining disrupted our back play and the opportunity lost

We went behind after eight minutes when we overthrew a ball at a line out and flanker Simon Billows seized to power over for a converted try. Earlier Billows had missed the team bus as his new alarm clock had failed to and he had driven to the ground arriving shortly before the game started.

We immediately responded when Harrison filling in at scrum half made a break behind a retreating pack to put Rupert Freestone in for a unconverted try.

Play moved from end to end and the visitors extended the lead when kicked the first of his penalties.

We were put under extreme pressure by the Shelford pack who had a succession of scrums close to our line but in a five minute spell our defence held firm.

Bale extended the lead early in the second half and then a charged down kick went over the line and full back Peter Baird

On the hour fly half Brad Barnes kicked a penalty and following a line out drive Harrison found acres of space on the blind side to score and bring us within bonus point range.

We appeared to be on our way then came a raft of injuries which badly disrupted us and our hopes of a comeback vanished Bale also landed a penalty which deprived us of a bonus point,

Defeat at Cambridge sees Dings drop back into the relegation. Cornish Pirates are level on points with them but are a place above as positions if points are level decided on number of wins.

The clubs clash at Lockleaze this coming Saturday so we await the result with interest. Chinnor, Redruth and London Irish are also in the danger zone.