Warriors v Clifton 2nd XV

Clifton won this game in the first twenty minutes building up a score of 17 points which the Warriors were always trying to catch up rugby.  That seventeen point was also the final deficit. Within the first two minutes Clifton attacked the Warriors and were awarded a penalty.  A kick to the corner and a lineout saw Alex Long soar high into the sky and steal the lineout from Clifton to allow the Warriors to half clear their line as the Clifton fullback caught and ran through the number 10 channel to score the first of his four tries of the game.  From the re-start Clifton again ran at the Warriors defence but some exceptional tackling was keeping them at bay.  Pressure eventually told and on the ten-minute mark Stevens went in for his second try of the game giving Clifton a ten-point lead.  Twenty minutes and Stevens breaks through again but this time when clear he was caught and tackled from behind.  The referee considered this to be a high tackle and it finished with a yellow card for the Warriors.  From the penalty Clifton kick to touch but yet again the Warriors win the lineout and clear their line.  However, Clifton use their man advantage and create an overlap for the score and with the conversion giving them a seventeen-point lead.  Almost from there-start Steven again went through that number ten channel and scored his third of the afternoon and with the conversion Clifton now had a 24-point lead.  When the Warriors had the ball in their hands, they looked threatening so on the half hour mark they take a quick tap penalty and drive at Clifton the ball comes to Alex Long who uses his pace and power for the Warriors to score their first try of the afternoon which Josh Guest converts.  Just five minutes later another quick tap penalty is fed on to number eight Oliver Barber who has a superb carry before laying the ball back for Olli Guest to snipe around the ruck for the try.  Just ten points behind with two minutes of the first half to go. Clifton re-start, the Warriors stand and watch the ball and Clifton gather with their prop scoring the try which was converted to reinstate that17-point lead at half time.

Just nine minutes of the second half and Ben Heath creates one of his breaks before feeding on to brother Marcus  who races away to score the try which Josh converts.  The Warriors were having more possession and creating chances which could not be finished off but conceding penalties which also relieved Clifton. The result was Stevens had the opportunity to race through again and score giving him his fourth try of the game. The Warriors were not down and out as Marcus Heath received the ball on the left wing and his strength and pace took him to within inches of the line where he passed to Oliver Wrelton in support for the try.  The Warriors were again putting many phases together and looked as though they could redeem this game but with 10-minutesleft and against the run of play the Warriors conceded another penalty and Clifton went in for another try and restored their seventeen-point lead.

A larger Clifton pack were never able to out scrummage the Warriors pack and the Forwards stole many of the Clifton Lineouts.  There was some outstanding tackling from all and even when exposed to a one on one the Warriors were able to nail their man.  This is probably the best side they have played against so far and they did have the beating of them it was just fine margins and opportunities.

Next week the Warriors are away at Cinderford for another tough game and we will not see them at home again until the 14^th  of December when they play Gordon League.

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