Back to 1st XV fixtures

Alan Crane writes:

♫ The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you, dear Clevedon, won't you come out and play? ♫ (with apologies to John Lennon)

That was the scene just before the match started, with Clevedon’s strip matching the weather perfectly. Expectation was in the air, but Old Reds had other ideas. Their crowd, boosted by a pre-match Old Boys reunion encouraged the home side to begin in robust style. The early exchanges in this match were fierce and uncompromising. Clevedon’s scrummaging was strong and immovable and the Old Reds pack didn’t have an answer to the sheer power and determination of the visiting eight.

Within ten minutes, the match settled down into a more mundane affair, with Clevedon winning most of the exchanges, albeit after making a number of simple errors and forgetting to ruck properly. The official in charge missed a number of blatant knock-ons and offside situations and was obviously having trouble with the low sun, admitting as much in the bar after the match. Nevertheless, he stuck to his task and penalised the game to a standstill.

Early penalty kicks were missed by both sides and it would be fair to say that the underfoot conditions weren’t conducive to dead ball kicking. However, it wasn’t long before Clevedon scored a try after a flowing move ended when Chris Cates touched down after kicking ahead. The conversion attempt failed. Old Reds replied with a penalty to trail by 5-3 a half time.

The second half for Clevedon started well, with John “Our John” Pearce running in from 20 metres after ripping the ball from a maul after a lineout. He even had the nerve to try and get behind the posts and eventually touched it down within the narrowest of in-goal areas. The conversion attempt failed. Old Reds hit back with a penalty to trail by 10-6 with twenty-five minutes left to play. Clevedon and Old Reds continued to miss penalty kicks and the game became a bit frantic, with both sides searching for a match winning score.

Now the nerves of the visiting supporters started jangling, stomachs began to gripe and pacing the touchline was much in evidence. With ten minutes remaining Mike Lowis struck a mistimed but ultimately accurate drop goal to increase Clevedon’s lead to 13-6. Every Clevedon supporter calmed down a bit knowing that Old Reds required two scores to win. Clevedon continued to play well and had to defend stoutly for the final minutes. Eventually the final whistle went and Clevedon were victorious, a result that leaves them a clear second in the league.

Paul Squires, Club Chairman writes:

Clevedon looked forward to their visit to Old Redcliffians, as it has been a fair old while since these two old adversaries last met. Clevedon started well, playing up the hill and into the wind. The early exchanges were even with each defence holding out. Clevedon enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half, but it took a good half an hour before the Reds' defence cracked. After a good passage of play where Clevedon managed to string some phases of play together, Chris Cates, the Clevedon wing received the ball on the oppositions 22. Chris chipped the ball over the defenders head, and his blinding pace sealed a well deserved try. Old Reds then applied pressure on the Clevedon line and came away with a penalty five minutes before half time. The sides turned around 5-3 in Clevedon's favour.

The second half was a much more scrappy affair with the conditions beginning to take their toll. Again, all departments were fairly even with especially the defences holding firm. Ten minutes into the half, Clevedon won a line out around twenty metres out, and John Pearce broke off the blind side to score a welcomed 2nd try for Clevedon. Old Reds then began to pressurise Clevedon's line again, but Clevedon's tackling was quite superb in places. Owen Biggins, outstanding all afternoon, put in some memorable tackles and was Clevedon's man of the match. Old Reds fullback converted another penalty to close the gap to 6-10. Clevedon returned the pressure and Mike Lowis dropped a goal to open the gap to a more comforting seven points.

Not a brilliant performance by Clevedon, however a well earned 2 points to take them to a clear 2nd place in the league table.

Match day photos can be found here