Weston Under 15's stutter against Clifton

Match Report by Kenny Braidwood

This was a match where Weston struggled to turn possession into points. Weston started brightly and seemed to have the upper hand but Clifton's counter rucking saw them securing the ball and getting it out to the right wing to score the first of their seven tries. Conversion was missed. Clifton's second try was very similar to their first but this time they were able to get the extras as well.

Weston's forwards had the measure of their opponents for most of the game especially in the scrums where the referee had to stop the Weston scrums dominant push at several set pieces. A successful scrum led to Weston's first try scored by Andrew Turner who was driven over the line by the pack. Conversion was missed by Harry Strutt. The next Weston forward on the score sheet was Ruben Picardo who gathered the ball from a Clifton scrum which Weston won against the head. Picardo used his power to break a couple of tackles and touch the ball down. Again the conversion was missed.

Clifton scored a third try just before half time to go in with a 17 to 10.

The second half saw Clifton continue to work the ball very well out of defence and frustrate Weston's attempt to get back into the game. Clifton were excellent at turning defence into attack and all four of their second half tries had them moving the ball wide with pace and attacking gaps in the Weston defence.

Weston did score one more try in the game. A gain from a well worked scrum which resulted in the ball getting into the hands of Dom Marshall who sped over the line. Harry Strutt scored the conversion.

Throughout the game Weston saw a lot of the ball but they were not as quick as usual at getting the ball out from the breakdown. Coupled with Clifton's good technique at breakdowns this meant that Weston were hurried into mistakes.

Man of the match went to Joseph Connolly who tackled endlessly all match and was excellent at putting pressure on the Clifton number 9 at scrum time.