Clevedon 39 Cleve 12
1st February 2003

Back to 1st XV fixtures Clevedon started in fine style with a good lineout won by John Pearce and a drive by the forwards resulting in Tom O'Rourke crashing over for a try, which Steve Johnson converted. A long kick down field was caught by Tom Thie at full back, replacing Mike Lowis away on London Broncos duty, who bamboozled the opposition with a 70 metre run to score one of the best individual tries seen at the Vale for many a year. Johnson converted.It was all one way traffic with Clevedon in complete domination. Johnson increased the lead with a penalty to make it 17-0 after 10 minutes of play. Cleve competed well at forward, but when the ball went wide into the open spaces they had no answer to Clevedon's pace and guile. A slick handling movement saw Chris Cates go over, which Johnson again converted.. Cleve who always stuck to their game plan were rewarded with a well worked try, but before the break Cates added a second try from a tap penalty. The second half saw Cleve through their forwards come more into the game, but it was Clevedon who increased their lead with a well worked try by Owen Biggins. Johnson failed with the kick, slicing it wide of the near post. Cleve came back with a converted try, but Clevedon had the final say with a fine try by old war horse Adie Freeman. Before the game it was confirmed that Clevedon had been awarded the points from the Matson game the week before Match day photos can be found here Derek Lilley's can be found here. John Higman's admirable efforts can be found here. Next Saturday Clevedon are away to St. Mary's in the league, kick off is at 2:30pm. Back to 1st XV fixtures