Bristol Medics Casualties of Wanderers Onslaught

A gap in the fixture list allowed the Wanderers to invite the United Bristol Hospital XV to sunny Station Rd this weekend for the first time in two years.

For the rugby neutrals this game promised a fast pace and lots of tries. There was also the added edge of Clifton's desire to right the wrongs of the last time the sides met when in the league two winters ago the Medics snuck a tight victory over Clifton after some rather controversial refereeing decisions.

The supporters were not disappointed either when the home side cruised into an early lead as flanker and eventual man-of-the-match Max Woodward scored his second try of the season.

Stunned by the initially Clifton barrage the Medics failed to get a handle on the game or the ball for first 20min as Clifton's pace and structure resulted in tries for winger Mike Cross, centre Luke Blizzard and prop Ben Christie all within the first quarter.

Blizzard himself terrorised the UBH back line, making repeated line-breaks and notching up his hat-trick before the clock had ticked beyond 30minutes.

Not to be out done by his team mate winger Cross also racked up his 3 try haul with two neat scores immediately after, the pick of them, coming from a champagne set piece move from a line-out outside the UBH 22.

Promising scrum-half Alex Haynes sealed his half of excellent kicking duties with a great solo effort to touch down between the posts to rack up 59 points for the home side as the half time whistle went.

Changes to personnel in the UBH team ensure that the second half began on more even keel and sure enough after an interception pass gifted to the visitors by fly-half Gareth Mason and some good work by their forwards the extensive gap was closed by two converted scores.

Not to be out done by his backline, No.8 and Captain Josh Goddard galloped over for close range after a period of the game in which Clifton seemed more obsessed in passing the ball to those stuck in traffic on the M5 than scoring.

Centre Jack Watters returning from injury put an end to proceedings by smashing his way through to score in the dyeing seconds leaving Haynes to convert the extras.

Final score Clifton 72 - 14 UBH.

Next week sees the Wanderers return to league action as they travel to Thornbury in the first away game of the season.