Alan Crane writes:
No one said it was going to be easy. Are you listening? I said "NO ONE SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE EASY!"
In very windy and blustery and sometimes wet conditions Clevedon started the match against the elements and for the first eight minutes looked the part of league leaders. However, this soon changed. A turnover ball on halfway saw the Old Richians scrum half grubber the ball up the touch line. The following wind accelerated the ball past the defence and a last ditch tackle by Biggins was adjudged to be illegal by the referee who awarded a penalty try. All of of a sudden Clevedon found themselves 7 - 0 down.
The wind continued to dominate the game with most of the action being played between the two 22's. After 30 minutes, Clevedon scored a superb try in the corner. Slick interplay between the forwards and backs allowed the enormously large centre, Tim Brooks to crash over in the corner to make the score 7 - 5 in Richians favour. Lowis's powerful conversion attempt against the wind failed to find the mark. A penalty kick a few minutes later also went wide. At half time, Clevedon found themselves two points adrift and considered themselves to be lucky given the amount of penalties being awarded against them. Coach Hanlon gave them a good talking to in preparation for the second half.
Second half to be continued.........
This was a battling result that reminded Clevedon not to be complacent in the remaining seven fixtures in the league.
Jeff Durant writes:
In a physical and error strewn game in which Clevedon never really got into top gear, they maintained their position at the top of the Western Counties league - just.
Clevedon played against a strong wind in the first half and early Richians pressure resulted in the referee awarding a penalty try to the home side after Owen Biggins had been deemed guilty of tackling the Richians winger without the ball.
Clevedon gradually forced their way into the game, but a seeming inability to string more than a couple of phases of play together, coupled with growing frustration at a succession of penalties awarded against them, meant their endeavours came to nothing.
Eventually, after strong driving play by Biggins, Tony Dauncey and Neil Tucker, Tim Brooks crashed over in the corner for Clevedon's first try. Mike Lowis was just wide with the difficult touchline conversion into the wind.
In the second half, Clevedon enjoyed more possession, but were unable to create much in the way of opportunities. After a strong period of pressure from Richians, in which Clevedon defended their line bravely, the home side scored a penalty to take a seemingly unassailable 10-5 lead with time running out.
This Clevedon team have proven themselves to be battlers to the end though, and a late tapped penalty enabled Brooks and Jamie Bale to make good ground before dynamic hooker Neil Tucker crashed through the defence for the decisive score under the posts. Mike Lowis made sure of the conversion to win the game for Clevedon, but for the team, Coach Brian Hanlon and the faithful travelling supporters, it was all a little too close for comfort.
Match day
photos can be found here 
Next week, Clevedon are at home to Old Centralians KO 14:30.