Cardinals dig in to lift promotion hopes
PETER Winterbottom paid tribute to Esher’s character and composure as they claimed a huge win.
With three points separating the top four promotion chasing teams and three of these having played each other in February, clubhouse post-match discussions are focused on analysing results, bonus points, injury lists, squad additions and points differences.
this game Clifton led the table courtesy of points difference only over Redruth, with Esher and Worthing in close pursuit.
But Esher ran in six tries to win a hard-fought game, with Winterbottom saying: “At times our set pieces were disrupted and they put us under pressure.
“Clifton came out fighting after the interval and we needed to show character and composure to stay in the game.”
Although Clifton were the first to score when
Jack Bartlett went over from a catch and drive, it was Esher who led for most of the game and had more control at critical times when their speed and pressure forced their hosts into making mistakes.
Some slick passing and an overlap sent full back Jack Lavin over with Sam Morley converting before a period of Esher pressure allowed centre Myles Rawstron-Rudd to exploit Clifton errors to score with Morley again adding the two points.
Lavin again went over with a Morley addition to extend the lead before Clifton hit back when Alex Forrester sent winger Ian Clark into the corner, but a Clifton error let in Fergus Donnelly to give Esher a comfortable half-time lead.
Clifton showed more power in the scrums and at times drove the Esher pack backwards, but their back line was depleted, although those who were on the pitch showed a determination to meet the speed and thrust of the Esher backs.
Clifton began the secBefore
ond half with renewed spirit and Brad Talbot crashed over for Luke Cozens to convert.
Strong running sent in Rawstron-Rudd for his second and winger Tomasz Pozniak completed the try scoring.
Clifton were not done and Henry Harper surged over the line for Cozens to convert before Morley closed out the game with a penalty.
Matt Salter, Clifton’s Director of Rugby, said that his side made too many errors in the first half and small margins are crucial in such tight games, and create turning points.
“The second half was more competitive and we managed ourselves better,” he said.
“This loss is not the beall and end-all for us and we expect more twists before the season ends.”
National League Rugby chairman John Inverdale said that the game was a great advert for rugby in national leagues, showed the quality of rugby at this level with so many great individual and unit performances.