Scrum teaches students a lesson

CLIFTON confirmed third place in the table as their scrum power proved too much for Exeter University.

A lively student team arrived with every intention of keeping the ball in hand to stretch Clifton and with a strong wind behind them led the match at half-time.

Good approach play early on sent flanker Jay Evans over for fly- half Luke Cozens to add his first of six successful conversions. Exeter hit back with a Jack Park penalty before scrum dominance provided good ball for home winger James Tayler to score.

Some loose play enabled student flanker Ewan Green to burst over. A well-weighted kick led to wing Conor Byrne scoring his first of two tries with Park converting both efforts.

Some tactical adjustwas ments meant Clifton then ran away with the game. Tries came regularly starting with a sweeping move ending with scrum-half Spencer scoring, centre Marcus Nel powering across, then a catch and drive ending with replacement hooker Tom Hatch touching down

The final onslaught started with strong centre Will Hutton scoring, followed by winger Tom Doherty and finally Tayler adding his second.

TEAMS

CLIFTON: Kilbane, Tayler, Nel, Owen, Doherty, Cozens, Spencer, Cano, Hewitt, Buckley, Myatt, Bergh, Evans, Cripps, Nixon

Replacements: Cole-Fontayn, Hatch, Sainsbury, Broady, Bowyer

EXETER UNI: Burton, Byrne, Allison, Jefferies, Adedeji, Park, Smears, Ando, Moody, Rolls, Findlay, Triggs, Green, Erskine, James

Replacements: Baldry, Watts, Alexander, Shuttleworth, Byrne

REFEREE: Dan Parrott

ATTENDANCE: 288 Star man

James Tayler (Clifton)