Clifton Cup Final reunion shows improved performance

It was a re-run of the U14 County Cup final. Could Stroud get revenge for the 43-5 loss at Hartpury? Would it all be 1 way traffic? Yes it was 1 way – the entrance off the roundabout that is. To show how focused they were some of the parents ignored the signage and went against the (traffic) flow. Could the U15s also buck the trend and go against the flow and force Clifton into an emergency stop?

The impressive Clifton setup was waiting – players and facilities. Tiered seating in the stands, covered dug-outs, a press-box. Even dead ball areas that were bigger than Dave’s ego – and Fromehall’s pitch…..they even had space to put some houses in there as well if they wanted…..

More Stroud forwards had joined the injury list. Coach Samak was the biggest concern though as his dead leg might stop him from hobbling onto the pitch to give the Churchillian half time speech that was probably going to be needed….. Luckily Delia sorted him out. She couldn’t work her magic though on the 4 starting forwards that were missing. Time to re-organise the pack again and invite Arthur into the role of flanker…..

Battered limbs were on both sides though as Clifton were littered with Colston players who had lost their mid-week National Schools Cup 5th round game, like Marling had done also.

Forwards: Liam, Orgy, Bernie, Darion, Jedd, Euan, Arthur, Stoner
Backs: Flash, Will, Dave, Keyan, Big Mac (aka new Archie), Billy, Alex
Subs: Lucas, Callum, Fin, Hilly, Ryan, Jamie

Clifton kicked off and were immediately into their stride. They stole the ball and unleashed their big forwards. New flanker Arthur was straight into action with 2 superb tackles. As expected Clifton were dominating the breakdown and giving clean ball to their back line. A break down the left was halted by Alex and Stroud then won a penalty for holding on. Will’s long kick missed touch but Big Mac was there to hack it on. He was unlucky to be penalised for holding onto his opponent as they fought for the ball. Clifton kicked the penalty deep into the Stroud 22 and won their lineout. As they sniped down the blindside stout defence from Liam and Orgy pushed them into touch. Stroud were under great pressure on their own 5 metre lineout – especially as they were missing lineout specialist Laurie. No worries as Orgy’s accurate throw found a leaping Euan and the forwards drove forward giving Will space to kick for touch. Clifton won their 22 lineout and set up a driving maul and controlled the ball all the way to the try line showing how powerful they were, and how much Stroud were missing some of their starters. The kick was missed and Clifton led 5-0.

Stroud kicked off and Clifton immediately kicked back. Alex ran the ball back but was man-handled into touch on halfway. Clifton won their lineout and set their pacy backs off to the left. Good defence from Big Mac slowed them down and Dave managed to come away with a turnover. Liam smashed up the middle and was tackled high so Stroud kicked their penalty to touch. Another good lineout set a good attacking platform. Billy made some good moves down the wing. Dave took a crash ball forward to dent a hole in the Clifton line. Flash got quick ball out to Will and he threw a perfect dummy pass that tricked the fast defensive line to over-commit. A gap opened up behind and he weaved his way through some desperate tackles to give himself a clear run to the line and a score under the posts that he duly converted. Stroud were leading 7-5. Had scored 40 minutes earlier than in the final! Was it time for the final whistle ref and a famous Stroud victory? Nope – still 50 mins to play so time for us to score a few more tries we though optimistically……

Clifton didn’t like losing. They kicked long and Stroud got held up. Clifton ripped the ball away and threatened to score. Good tackles from Euan and Darion slowed them up and then Flash managed to steal the ball before getting shoved into touch. Clifton threw their lineout long and missed their jumper. The ball was snaffled by an up-rushing forward and they pounded the line. Stroud kept them out for a few phases but the inevitable try was well earnt by disciplined forward play. Kick missed but Clifton were back in the lead at 10-7.

Will kicked long and Clifton ran it back well, assisted by some poor tackling. Big Mac did well to halt their big runner and then good rucking by Orgy and Arthur forced Clifton to infringe. Will kicked the penalty long into the Clifton 22. Euan again won the lineout but Clifton stole the ball in the drive. Clifton kicked long and managed to turnover the ball and setup another attack. Stoner’s big tackle forced a knock-on and the pressure reduced. Temporarily. Stroud lost their scrum to a massive Clifton shove and they unleashed their big forward runners again. Bernie and Arthur made some good tackles – but it was like halting a tsunami – not going to happen – and Clifton punched over for their third try. Another kick from wide was missed leaving the score at 15-7.

Stroud’s kickoff was long and Arthur was 1st there to control it. Stroud lose possession soon after and Clifton attacked left and as a try beckoned they threw a forward pass. Stroud had a scrum on their own 22 and were given a free-kick due to Clifton pre-engaging. A quick tap penalty and fast backs hands to the left gave Billy space to exploit up the wing and break into Clifton’s half. The ball was knocked on in contact and Clifton had a scrum restart but it was wasted as they went blind and were tackled into touch. Darion won the lineout this time and Keyan crashed up the middle but play was halted due to an injury to influential #10 Will. He was carried off and able replacement Ryan came on. Stroud won their scrum restart with a great Orgy hook and Flash pickup as the scrum went backwards at 20mph. A few Stroud phases of controlled ball frustrated Clifton and they were penalised at the ruck. Deputy kicker Dave kicked for touch and Stroud were again in the Clifton half ready to pounce and unleash their backs. Unfortunately Clifton had read the script and as the ball came back from the Stroud lineout and was despatched at pace it was well read by the Clifton back and he intercepted it and ran it back un-touched for another try (un-converted). 20-7 to Clifton. If Stroud had scored from here what might have been…….

Another strong Clifton kickoff return was again halted by Big Mac. Flanker Arthur was revelling in his new role and stole the ball at the ruck and again this forced Clifton to be penalised. Dave kicked long for touch and Stroud had an attacking lineout in the Clifton 22. Darion won the ball cleanly and a driving maul formed. Stroud went nowhere and this allowed the Clifton backs to come up high. As soon as the ball came out to Ryan he was closed down and had no space to pass so he cleverly cut back inside to the protection of the forwards. Darion took a pick and run but Clifton’s stout defense held out and forced the inevitable turnover. They kicked long which Alex recovered and passed quickly onto Big Mac who was looping around the back. He made good yardage down the left flank and earnt a penalty. Again Stroud had a lineout in the Clifton 22 but this time the ball went loose and Clifton turned it over and kicked deep. Their quick kick rush forced a turnover and they set up to pound the Stroud line. Good tackles by Jedd and Stoner kept them out. Clifton went to their backs and looked to punch over the line but Alex stopped them just short and then won a penalty. Stroud kicked for touch. Won their lineout on their own 22 and allowed common sense to prevail and kicked the ball into touch to give them a half time break and chance to re-organise.

Half Time: Clifton 20 - 7 Stroud

The subs were rotated and Hilly on for Flash, Fin for Billy, and Callum for Liam. Churchill gave us some wise words – and then the kids went back out to battle and show pride in the badge. Would be a tough 2nd half with the injury count and players playing out-of-position.

Stroud kicked off and Clifton ran it back well again – definitely need more kickoff practice – or more tackles hitting first time and lower on the body. Body tackling these guys is never going to work. Stoner was ready with a textbook tackle that half the crowd felt. Clifton kept the ball alive and then earnt a penalty. They kicked for touch and won their 22 lineout. They drove forward and camped themselves on the line again. Lucas did well with a tackle, then Bernie, then Callum. Clifton forced their way over but a Stroud body had got themselves underneath and prevented the score. Clifton had a 5 yard scrum that they won and went blind but Stoner put in another ferocious tackle and forced a knock-on. Stroud did well to lock-out and win their 5 yard scrum and give Dave space to kick to halfway. As the coaching staff breathed a sigh of relief we watched in amazement as Clifton managed to control the ball down the left flank and a combination of missed tackles and expert hands allowed them to score a well worked try into the corner (no kick). 25-7 was the Clifton lead.

Clifton ran back the next kick-off well – again helped by poor tackling. They broke into the Stroud half and 10 seconds later had crossed the whitewash for another try – this time with conversion. 12 points leaked in less than 2 minutes. Oooppsssss. It was starting to feel like a re-run of the final now. Could Stroud shown some heart and get back into the game?

Of course they could. It was never in doubt. 14 points unanswered – here’s how….

Try 1 – Bernie two big tackles. Arthur win another turnover. Clifton get penalised a few times as they get rattled and retreat deeper into their own half. Instead of going for a 5 metre penalty lineout we quickly tap and go right. Darion into contact. Fast ball from Hilly to Ryan who pops a perfect kick over the top and Dave rushes onto it and touches down in dead ball area. Good kick. Now 32-14

Try 2 – Keyan good kickoff return. Lucas and Dave then go on pounding runs. Clifton win turnover but Keyan tackles them into next week. Stroud march out of their own 22 upto half way. Wimn their own lineout. Some magic in midfield between Ryan, Will (mobile on 1 leg only) and Dave creates a gap that Dave exploits and runs half the pitch to score under the posts. Will hops up on his 1 good leg and slots the extras. Game on. Stroud now losing 32-21 but the wind in their sails. 3 tries in the books. Can we get a 4th and earn the bonus point?

Clifton kicked short and their wall of forwards forced a knock-on. The next few minutes alternated with scrums and lineouts on both sides as the teams cancelled each other out with well disciplined defense. Jedd had a lung-busting pounding run that put many a dent in a Clifton’s player body but he was eventually stopped as he ran out of air. Stroud’s good defense was now forcing Clifton into a kicking game. Euan won a lineout on the Stroud 22 and Hilly set the backs off left. Ryan was closed down quickly but put in an expert step to confuse the tackler and break into space. 30 metres later he was eventually tackled and well positioned Fin took on the attack. Clifton were well organised though and held up the resulting maul and won a scrum restart on halfway which they duly won. They kept the ball in close and more good defense from Callum and Orgy kept them at bay. Clifton went wide left and a brave tackle from James slowed them down. Eventually Clifton crossed the try line but another black and blue body (shirt and bruises!) got themselves underneath the ball to deny a try. Back for a Clifton scrum on the 5 metre line and this time their #8 made no mistake as he powered over the line from the base of the scrum. 37-21 was now the Clifton lead.

Will kicked long and Billy put in a great tackle. That’s how you defend kick-offs. More of the same please next week. Clifton quickly moved the ball left though and swerved through some tired tackles. Fin at full back positioned himself well – although he didn’t bring the man down he forced him to change direction and into the retreating arms of Dave who put in a try saving tackle (That’s £5 you owe me Dave for the name check…) This galvanised the Stroud players and more punishing tackles from Keyan and Stoner followed. Clifton kept control of the ball though and their #10 put in a gruber kick and it pin-balled around various body parts and eventually he dived on it for another try that he promptly converted. Who was this Clifton #10? Coach Samak advised he had recently arrived from Ireland – Rick O’Shay was his name….. (£5 royalties owed to Mark – best of luck getting it off Dave).

The ref blew his whistle for full time and Clifton had won 44-21 with 2 late tries to flatter the scoreline.

Full Time: Clifton 44 – 21 Stroud

Both teams applauded each other off the pitch. Clifton had dominated the majority of the 1st half after Stroud had taken an early lead. As the 2nd half looked ominous at 32-7 Stroud had shown great spirit to fight back to 32-21. Ultimately they ran out of players and puff as Clifton scored 2 late tries to re-inforce their reputation as the best team in the County – skilled in the backs and the forwards.

A team debrief was held and the team congratulated for their dogged character to come back well in the 2nd half – much like the County Cup final in fact. Ryan had played really well as emergency #10. Arthur had a storming game at flanker. The forwards had put in a great shift with the majority having to play 45+ mins each and everyone playing 30 mins. The backs had contributed by scoring when given clean ball and assisting in the defending and not allowing Clifton to get outside them. Overall a big improvement on the Cup Final. We look forward to playing Clifton again later in the season at home and hopefully with a full compliment of forwards to share the workload and shore up the scrum.

So now to put a positive spin on the game and allow statistics to decide the victor….

• We led at the start – but for some reason the ref played 50 minutes injury time afterwards….
• We kicked more conversions than Clifton
• We nearly got a bonus point 4th try – not many teams will do that against Clifton.
• Compared to our last game we scored 200% more tries. In comparison Clifton stagnated score wise 43 vs 44 …..
• ……Therefore we must have had the biggest %age defensive improvement as well
• We had more kids called Archie and Tom than they did
• We had more leg injured coaches called Mark than they did

Onwards and upwards lads. Next week its Chippenham at home. Should be another good high scoring game as we edged them 51-41 at their place before Xmas.