Rugby Relegation battle looms as Cleve slump to latest defeat
CLEVE director of rugby Dave Partington believes his team is in real danger of being dragged into a relegation battle if they continue their recent run of poor form. Cleve sit 11th in South West Premier, one point and one place above the drop zone.
Cleve have a great opportunity to pick up points next week when they play bottom side Old Patesians at The Hayfields, before facing the division’s top two sides Bournemouth and Barnstaple.
Cleve’s latest shock result came at fellow strugglers Newton Abbot, who beat them 46-17. The Mangotsfield-based outfit were well in contention at the break, but fell away badly in the second-half to lose for the 12th time this season. Tries by Max Baker and Nathan Huntley - both converted by Huntley who also added a penalty - gave Cleve a 17-15 lead at the break. But the All Whites added 31 points without reply in the second half to register their third victory of the season.
Weston surrendered a 13-point advantage against Exmouth at The Recreation Ground, and had to be content with a share of the points after the visitors clawed their way back to finish with a 13-13 draw. After a poor start to the season, the Seasiders have improved to cement a mid-table position, but will be disappointed not to finish the job against the Cockles. Matt Watkins and Marcus Nel scored tries, James Mackay added a penalty.
In South West One West, Hornets made it two wins in a row and move up to seventh in the table thanks to a 33-26 win over bottom side Cullompton at The Nest. Steve Pape’s team were always in control, but found the relegation candidates tough to break down.
Half-time came with Hornets 21-12 up thanks to tries from Lewis Brake and a brace from flanker Tommy Bailey, who went on to complete his hat-trick in the second-half - Jordan Humphris adding three conversions. Josh Luxton and Scott Reed went over for Cully before the break.
Second-half tries from Bailey and Ross Cheeseborough, both converted, pulled Hornets away at 33-12 as the score mounted. Four minutes from time Ross Toms scored an interception try for Cullompton and with time almost up Ollie Shuster-Wood got on the scoresheet.
Keynsham, in eighth place, fell to a 42-22 defeat at St Ives. The visitors’ power pack hit the rails after both of their second-rows were forced to leave the action with injuries. Jack Evans dotted down for a double, with Lewis Bush and Jon Pearce also going over to earn Keynsham a try bonus-point.
Thornbury drop down to tenth after their 46-26 reverse against Newent at Rockhampton Road. The home side made a bad start and never really got going during a below-par performance. The highlight of the game, though, was a hat-trick of tries from Thornbury’s Alfie Richardson. Tom Williams also crossed to earn his side a try bonus-point. Jake Wood added three conversions for Thorns.