Clifton 27

Dings 20

By John White

A BATTLING first half performance by Clifton laid the foundations for their 27-20 victory over cross-city rivals Dings Crusaders in what proved to be a thrilling derby encounter at Cribbs Causeway.

Recent meeting between these sides tends to go right down to the wire and this game was no exception. However, the home side looked to be cruising to a record-breaking winning margin after 30 minutes as they marched into a 20-point lead.

But a brave second half revival saw Dings fight back to within seven points and it was the home side that was nervously hanging on at the full time whistle.

Clifton, although forced to spend long periods of the opening quarter penned in their own territory, started brightly, and were sharper and more energised than the visitors.

And the home side won the crucial battle of the breakdown and often sent the Crusaders ball carriers reeling as they piled into the rucks and mauls with fire and brimstone.

The visitors were never short of possession but their early attacks lacked dynamism, accuracy and invention and the Clifton defence simply lined them up and smashed them back.

Dings, who were forced into fielding a youthful mid-field trio of Harvey Skelton, debutante James Leatherby and the returning Sheldon Stevens, struggled to make inroads against their more physical opposite numbers, in particular centre Steve Leonard who carried the ball with power and tackled ferociously for Clifton.

And there was an interesting sub-plot at No8 with Clifton’s John Levis and Buster Lawrence of Dings both catching the eye in defence and attack.

Clifton took the lead in the eighth-minute with a try from duel-registered Bristol Academy prop Jake Caulfield, who impressed throughout. Dings lost possession and the turnover ball was shifted to the mobile front-rower who sprinted 30-metres to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try.

The home side extended their lead with two penalties from fly-half Billy Blair. Crusaders improved in the second quarter and might have something to show for their efforts but opted to kick to the touchline instead of shooting at goal and each time they came away empty handed.

The home side went further ahead, while Dings prop James Cooke was in the sin-bin for an accumulative offence, after lock Peter Butcher charged down an attempted clearance kick, re-gathered and scored close to the posts to give Blair the easiest of conversions to make it 20-0 to Clifton.

Dings pulled three points back on the stroke of half time after Clifton flanker James Stephenson was yellow carded for killing the ball. Skelton landed the ensuing penalty and the visitors began to assert themselves early in the second half. Scrum-half Waylon Gasson, who put in a decent shift for Dings, crossed for an unconverted try on 50-minutes.

But Clifton regained the advantage when they were awarded a controversial penalty try nine-minutes later. Blair converted The final quarter was dominated by the visitors as they threw caution to the wind. Clifton were again reduced to 14-men when hooker Paul Fincken was sent to the bin for not rolling away.

Leatherby claimed a converted try on 77-minutes and full-back Ed Haupt squeezed in at the corner for an unconverted try two-minutes later to make it 27-20. But the home side held on to record their third consecutive league victory over Dings.

Scorers

Clifton tries: Caulfield 8, Butcher 31, penalty try 61

Conversions: Blair 31, 61

Penalties: Blair 12, 24

Dings tries: Gasson 50, Leatherby 77, Haupt 79

Conversions: Skelton 77

Penalty: Skelton 40

Teams

Clifton: Roberts, Kilmartin, Leonard, Pomphrey, Smee, Blair, Bell, Dean, Fincken, Caulfield, Salter, Butcher, Eadie, Stephenson, Levis.

Dings: Haupt, Stevens T, Stevens S, Leatherby, Caven, Skelton, Gasson, Lloyd, Wheeler, Cooke, Rees, Knight, Goodman, Williams Elliott

Ends…

LLOYD – There is more to come from this side

CLIFTON director of rugby Darren Lloyd praised his team’s sparkling first half display in their derby triumph over Dings and believes that there is much more to come from his new look side. Clifton came flying out of the blocks to stun the visitors with their physicality and Lloyd was quick to pay tribute to his side’s magnificent start to the contest.

Lloyd said: "That was our best first half display of the season so far. We came out and played with real intensity and commitment from the opening whistle and I think we took Dings by surprise. We are beginning to put together a good young team and they will only get better as the season progresses.

"We were very poor in out opening league game against Worthing and we had to take a good hard look at ourselves, as a collective. But we’ve made improvements in every game since the Worthing ‘no-show’ and I’m confident that this team will continue to make progress.

As always, it was a real battle against Dings - they came back at us hard in the second half. There are certainly things for the coaches to work on but overall, I’m delighted with the performance and the result today."

HILTON – We need to improve our first half performances.

DINGS Crusaders picked up their third consecutive losing bonus point during their 27-20 reverse at Clifton, in what was their third straight defeat this season. The Lockleaze-based side out scored their local rivals 13-7 in the second half and finished the stronger of the two sides.

But Crusaders coach Dave Hilton is growing increasingly frustrated by his team’s inability to get off to a good start in games so far this season and believes that his charges need to improve their first half performances.

Hilton said: "We’ve picked up another losing bonus point and played very well in the second half. But we can’t keep giving teams a 20-point lead and expect to win. We did it last week against Old Albanians and we’ve done it again this week here.

Yes, we finished strongly and might have nicked it if the game went on a little longer but the fact is, that we were 20 points behind in the first half and a team like Clifton is unlikely to surrender such a commanding lead, especially at home. We’re not pressing the panic button just yet but we do need to start winning some games and, getting off to a good start will help us achieve that objective."