CLIFTON are establishing their presence in the national league with the team settling into patterns of play and coming to terms with the demands of facing much more competitive opposition.
Being able to establish a mid table position has built confidence and the expected return from injury of wing Zak Hamid and the availability of key centre Will Owen are both fuelling expectations.
Having faced three of the top promotion contenders in September a visit to Manchester to face Sedgely Park saw them return with maximum points after a great display in scoring forty-one points against their opponents thirty. This was followed by a home game against Sale seeing a narrow defeat but achieving a valuable losing bonus point.
A further trek up north to Leeds led to the lavender and blacks playing in their dazzling pink away strip outscore their opponents in the try count but agonisingly suffering a very narrow defeat by three points. Reward though came through two further bonus points.
Away from the 1st XV both second string Wanderers and third team the Misfits secured big wins on the same day . The Wanderers saw off Bridgwater and Albion 64-17 in a fine display against a team not long ago playing our first fifteen. The Misfits outplayed Bishopston 1st team with an incredible score in a very open game 78-42.
These results demonstrate a great strength in depth with opportunities at all levels for players to join and enjoy themselves at Clifton Rugby
New recruits this season are now established across the teams. Newcomers in the backs are rapidly becoming established. At Leeds winger and man of the match Ollie Harris and fellow winger Tom Hargan both showed speed and termination to score with the try securing the bonus points coming from experienced prop Ricky Cano.
The experienced Brad Talbot showed his strength with two tries at Sedgley Park with flanker Jay Evans adding another. Former Irish Under 20-star James McKinney kicked two crucial penalties He shares the number 10 shirt with Tom Quinlan who spent valuable time in New Zealand during the summer. Other new backs Harry Johnson and Dylan Power have also received man of the match awards .
8 November Leicester Lions away
15 November Rosslyn Park home
22 November Dings Crusaders away
Roger Opie