Knights Slain by Wanderers

The Wanderers claimed their third big scalp of the season thus far as they hosted arch-rivals Dings Knights in the inaugural GRFU Premier League Cup.
The victory completes Clifton’s unbeaten run into the Christmas break with 11 wins from 11 in all competitions. Two penalties from full-back Allen Williams proved the difference for the Lavender and Blacks side to gain the win that puts them firmly in charge of the Southern Pool.

There was a return to the Clifton the second row for lock Tom Barr after injury and Nomad prop Ali Baker made his debut in the front row.

The first quarter of the game saw neither side draw blood and despite Clifton’s upper hand it took an age for their line out to fire.
Despite several missed chances the hosts were unable to penetrate the blue and black defence and many watching would have anticipated the score board not being troubled before half time.

Finally after 32mins Williams was afforded his first shot at the uprights after Dings were judged to have infringed at the breakdown.

Neither side appeared willing to ignite their back line as it became increasingly clear that only domination of the scrum and the more physical side in defence would produce the result.

Clifton carried the slender 3-0 lead into the break.

Dings responded first to the second half whistle and launched a series of attacks into the Clifton 22. They were denied one try out wide which the Referee deemed to have been thwarted by the touchline, but persisted in their pressure until a turn over directly under posts allowed them to pick their way over the home side’s line.

The score galvanised Clifton who unlike Dings switched to their Plan B. Some long range tactical kicking from centre Jack Watters allowed Clifton to ease their way into the Dings 22 and deploy several effective rolling mauls.

After a bout of sustained pressure following a clean line-out the lavender and black shirts surged over the line and Captain Henry Mace emerged with the ball to reclaim his sides lead.

Williams’s unorthodox, but effective kicking style converted the extras from out wide.

With the game poised at 10-7 going into the final 15 minutes Dings found little in the tank to offer in attack. In stark contrast the much energised Clifton pack began to systematically demolish the visitor’s forwards.

Dings, riddled with injuries failed to find a hand brake to their rapidly reversing scrum and were forced to endure the humiliation of being driven back into their own 22 twice.

It seemed only a matter of time before ill-discipline crept into Dings’ play and sure enough Clifton’s upper hand reaped its rewards and finally Williams was offered his second penalty chance to nudge Clifton ahead even further in the 75th minute.

Restricted to slow-ball from rucks, and the game seemingly going from set piece to set piece, the Knights rarely looked like creating the openings to mount any form of comeback as Clifton happily played out the final few minutes of full-time.

Final score 13 – 7

A gritty and determined performance by a Wanderers side plagued by injuries and lack of player availability. Centre Jack Watters picked up the M-O-M award for his composure and leadership in the defensive line.

The team march on into 2015 undefeated and look to kick on in the New Year with a trip to Old Centralians on 10th January.