Clifton claim John Budd Cup with win against Barnstaple

Barnstaple 3 Clifton 29

ASIDE from league points, encounters between these West Country rivals are played for the John Budd Memorial Cup. He was a stalwart and character in both camps during his career.

Consequently, keenly competitive matches tend to result. Barnstaple are a side showing improvement as the season progresses, as evidenced in running National Two West leaders Leicester Lions close the previous Saturday. Clifton were not complacent in their preparations and keen to remain prominent in the top-six cluster.

From the kick-off, confusion in the Clifton ranks gave Tyler Gordon-Oke the opportunity to give his team an early lead. Although Clifton scored five tries, it was only in the closing stages that two of these efforts gave them a decisive bonus-point victory

The Barum defence was resolute for much of the game and thwarted the visitors, whose backline found the long grass not suited to their style of play.

It was the strength of prop Rhys Charalambous who unleashed the Clifton backs, with full-back Alex Howman going over to open their account.

Their lead was extended before the Interval when a well-executed catch-and-drive sent hooker Bertie Stetch, star man and a native of north Devon, over for Clifton’s second try.

Barnstaple launched some promising attacks and defended well until a break from wing Alex Kilbane led to try number three.

In the closing stages, the Clifton pack dominated with first Brad Talbot and then Nick Selway scoring to improve the total. Zak Ward added the conversions.