Derby not dampened by testing conditions
AS TYPHOON Hagibis wreaked havoc across Japan and left Scotland’s World Cup hopes hanging by a thread – at Scotland Lane conditions were not much better.
But where two games were called off on Saturday at the World Cup, this clash in National Two South passed a pitch inspection and Gregor Townsend and his men will be hoping the same happens on the other side of the world later today.
And the fans that turned up at Scotland Lane were treated to an entertaining game – although a disappointing one for those cheering on Old Redcliffians as Clifton ran riot.
Within the first two minutes, and with Clifton going down the hill, they won a penalty which was converted by James Dixon.
Ten minutes later the Lavender and Blacks went further ahead with Finlay Sharp being released to score and Dixon added the extras.
Redcliffians, going uphill in the first half, were battling hard and were rewarded when fly-half Ashley Groves struck a penalty to reduce the deficit to seven points.
But straight from the kick-off the home side’s hearts were broken as a speculative kick ahead was eventually picked up by hooker Luke Stratford and with Dixon again converting Clifton led at the break by 17 - 3.
The second half was no different as Mitch Spencer, son of old Dings Crusaders adversary Kevin Spencer, scored and the ever-dependable Dixon again was spot on with his kick.
A surge from the restart saw Reds with a penalty kick into Clifton’s ten-metre area and a lineout catch and give was enough for Luke Rapson to streak through for the dot down but the conversion was unfortunately missed.
Kick after kick, ping-pong
style, resulted in a Reds penalty kicked to the touchline on five metres.
An overthrown lineout gave Clifton back the advantage and an attack went over the line but was deemed to be held up. Drive after drive by the home side was well held by a stubborn and effective Clifton defence.
A knock on, on the Clifton line, saw another Redcliffian attack thwarted.
The defence of Clifton was seldom broken and on 70 minutes their attack kicked into gear, Harry Bates crossing with Dixon again converting.
Reds however, took the game again to Clifton and captain Dan Fry finished off a classically Reds attacking play to score between the posts, this time Groves choosing to drop the conversion attempt in search of a vital further score but this was not to be and Clifton’s dominance of the Bristol rugby scene continues unabated.
Reds coach Alex Davies said: ‘Things didn’t quite click here and a few things went against us but, on the day, Clifton deserved the win. We couldn’t turn possession into points early in the second half and paid the price for tiny errors. The final score did not really reflect the closeness of the game.”
Clifton head coach Matt Salter saluted his side’s defence and discipline in the second half.
He said: “We stood firm when it really mattered to take the win.”