On a warm afternoon but with an early breeze and some rain clouds moving in from the northeast that came to nothing, we took on Clifton in the league kitted out in a fetching pink strip that livened up the photos.
The game started with a very early score from Clifton on six minutes. They were looking very sharp in attack, they won a scum after we knocked on, it was an untidy scrum that we pushed them back a short way with their from row lifting slightly. From it they broke the defence on the left Alex Kilbane was able to go in behind the posts for Thomas Quinlan to convert. 0~7.

On fourteen minutes another try with a smooth backs move from our ten yard line ended with a one man overlap the last defender only able to stop Alex Kilbane from getting closer to the posts and scoring his second. The breeze did its best to curve the kick inside the far post but it missed by about three feet. 0~12.
On nineteen minutes Clifton collected a technical yellow card. But despite that on twenty-six minutes Jake Buckley scored for Clifton. They won a penalty, and went for a five-yard lineout, I thought they would catch and drive but they put it to the backs who had a couple of thrusts at our line and on the third, just past the far posts, Jake Buckley straightened up and went over and Thomas Quinlan converted. 0~19.
Clifton then had a long period of attacking our line through the forwards and standing behind the dead ball line I could appreciate the tremendous effort our forwards, mostly but also backs when needed, put in to keep Clifton out, on twenty-nine minutes Oli Symonds was sent from the field of play with a yellow card raised in his direction.
We continued to defend after he had gone and those five or ten minutes were one of the high points of the game for me.
They then put it to their left wing who looked like he had scored in the drive in entrance corner, but he must have been forced to put a foot out of play because we had a five-yard line out, from it we worked to safety only to lose the ball and they started attacking again but to cap a good period we eventually took the ball off them and slowly worked our way to safety.
Then on thirty-eight minutes our first try when we got to their line and won a scum, the first one wobbled rather and had to be reset, from the second we played at their line three times or so then Aiden Taylor went over near the stand side post. The conversion by Leighton Stark went over and with it I pencilled a note in my notebook that it was his first 1XV score. 7~19.
Thus at half time they were up 7~19.
We just about had the edge in the scrums and were stronger in the mauls but they had razor sharp and speedy backs who supported each other well.

The second half and we were now playing towards the turnstile end.
George Pooley had a strong run into their half and won a penalty that Leighton Stark kicked over. 10~19.

However, forty-eight minutes in a bonus point try by Matthew Smith, We were attacking and looking good when a pass was intercepted and off the ball carrier went from just inside our half, he looked a racing certainty for a try when Tom Davies, I think, came racing after him from someway back, the ball intercepter must have been thinking ‘I’m in for a try here’. not realising that Tom was faster and able to catch and bring him to the ground short of the try line, unfortunately for us he had Matt Smith in support and was able to get the ball away to him for a score. The conversion was missed. 10~24.
Minute fifty-three and a try to Thomas Anderson, despite some good tackling they flooded the defence with quick passing putting over Tom Anderson with Tom Quinlan converting. 10~31.
From a lineout in front of the stands to them on minute sixty-three they attacked, a missed tackle let Marcus Nel through for a score, it was converted by Tom Quinlan. 10~38.
Four minutes later a repeat of the last score, Marcus Nel scoring with Tom Quinlan converting. 10~45.
Minute seventy-five and a Clifton try by Jay Evans converted by Tom Quinlan, we had again been defending our line well from short range attacks, eventually they gave up and quickly sent it wide for the score.10~52.
With five minutes to go George Pooley collected a technical yellow card.
Then just about on time, we started an attack from just inside our half, the ball went to Bertie Fordham who broke the defence without too much trouble and went for the clubhouse side entrance corner, about eight feet out full-back Luke Danials got hold of him, but Bertie’s speed and momentum took the pair over the line to score close to the corner flag. A difficult sideline conversion attempt by Leighton Stark went over, 17~52.
We never really closed the gap after the interception try, but the second try was welcome and it is always nice to have the final say of the game. It shows we never gave up.

George Pooley was the Nigel Chivell memorial man of the match it was presented to him by the Clifton Chairman Aftab Hamid.
The First team v Clifton. home. 14.30.

1. Rikki Bentham.
2. Aiden Taylor.
3. James McFarlane.
4. Mike Hunt.
5. Andy Pond.
6. Liam Jarvis.
7. Bertie Fordham.
8. Matt Gregory (C)
9. Dan Goldstone.
10. Leighton Stark.
11. George Pooley.
12. Shaun Crawford. (C)
13. Jack Evans.
14. Tom Davies.
15. Kieran Down.
16. Tyler Busfield.
17. Oli Symons.
18. Oli Lane.
19. Luke Stannard.
20. Billy Orchard.

The Management.
Ben Russell.
Rikki Bentham.

The second team v Tamar Saracens away.
This game was a league and Combination cup double header.
It keeps us in third position in the league, though we are really second because the top team, the top team, Exeter Saracens have played one more game than the two teams below.
We are now in the final of the Plymouth Combination's Lockie cup.
The Second team tries were scored by:
Khane Young.
Dylan Harbour.
Yianni Costas.
Half time 7~21.
Yianni Costas.
Tom Richards.
All conversions by Matt Anstis.
The Second team v Tamar Saracens, away. 12.00. League and cup double.
1. Yianni Costas.
2. Ethan Hilland.
3. Sean Harrison.
4. Jay Warren.
5. Can Donkin.
6. Khane Young. (C)
7. Ryan Dunn.
8. Ethan Millard.
9. Billy Sutton.
10. Matt Anstis.
11. Oli Whitfield.
12. Tom Richards.
13. Rhys Williams.
14. Sam Fincham.
15. Dylan Harbour.
16. Isaiah Akinrowo.
17. Al Thomas.
18. Charlie Groves.
TR. Josh Martin.
TR. Laird Whitford.
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