Oscar James scored the only try of the game for the visitors, midway through the first-half, while Will Carpenter added a penalty to complete the scoring.

In a game of small margins, Bideford missed two penalties in the final five minutes, much to the relief of a Clevedon side who will be hoping this result can kick-start their season.

Despite the wet and windy conditions, the playing surface at Bank End was in immaculate condition –and it was the home side, playing against the elements, who had the best of the opening exchanges.

Ollie Wickett kicked Bideford into a 3-0 lead following a spell of resolute defending from a fired-up Clevedon side.

The majority of the first-half was played in and around the halfway line, as both sides battled the elements and some hefty tackling, in a bid to gain a foothold in the game.

On the half hour mark, Clevedon crossed for a decisive try courtesy of wing, Oscar James.

Following a turnover just inside the Bideford half, the visitors moved the ball to the left-hand touchline, before a swift handling move coming back the other way, saw Carpenter, Dave Rawle, Harley Foley, Joe Williams and Harvey Russell combine to free up James, who finished in emphatic style for his fifth try of the season.

Carpenter’s conversion from wide on the right was off target – but the fly-half knocked over a simple penalty shortly after, to open up an 8-3 lead.

Bideford fly-half, Wickett reduced the deficit to 8-6 with a straightforward penalty of his own, before Carpenter squandered the chance to open up a five-point cushion two minutes before the break, when he was off target with a 30 metre kick.

Now playing against a gale force wind, Clevedon knew the second-half was going to be more about guts and grind than anything else – and a spell of Bideford pressure minutes into the half, was halted by a vital turnover by the impressive Joe Williams.

The away side edged their way down field and went close to extending their lead, when flanker Chris Warren almost won the race to Mike Lowis’ deft chip.

But Bideford came storming back into the game, only to be denied by a spirited defensive effort at the lineout.

With five minutes remaining, Wickett had the chance to break Clevedon hearts with a 30 metre penalty, only to see his kick drift across the face of the posts.

But more drama was to follow, as the referee awarded the home side another penalty with the final play - but the kick, from all of 40 metres, followed a similar course and Clevedon were left to celebrate only their second win of the season.

This was a much-needed result for Clevedon, who have climbed back out of the bottom three in South West One West and will be hoping to build on it when Avonmouth visit Coleridge Vale on Saturday (2.30pm).