Home Defeat For The Seasiders

The two sides relegated from SW 1 last season clashed again when Gloucester side Matson visited the vale. Matson started well putting the Seasiders under pressure at tackle time and forcing turn overs and from a penalty kick to touch the Matson pack caught and drove over the line to score an unconverted try. Clevedon put some phases together but failure to clear the breakdown resulted in another penalty which the visitors duly tapped and ran the length of the field to score a converted try. With 15 minutes gone and 12 nil down it didn't look good for Clevedon. Matson piled on the pressure and a wide pass meant for their winger was suddenly intercepted by the eagle eyed Desmond Burns who ran the length of the field to score a try, converted by Jordan Meins. This seemed to fire Clevedon into action and from a steady scrum the ball was passed to Grant Cherrington, whose barnstorming run and pass allowed Owen Biggins to score a converted try 14-12. The Seasiders had the edge in the scrums but their failure to deal with Matsons driving line out resulted in another try, unconverted. The Seasiders were finding space and after some good phases Brian Largenton scored an unconverted try to go into half time 19-17 up.

Early into the second half Matson were awarded a penalty which they converted for a 19-20 lead. For the next 20 minutes both sides battled hard and cancelled each other out, the turning point came in the last quarter when a Clevedon player was sin binned and the Gloucester side took advantage to score a converted try and with minutes remaining and Clevedon chasing the game a momentary lapse of concentration allowed the visitors to score another converted try to close out the game 19-34.

Head coach Nick Hill commented "The score line flatters as we were right in it till a couple of lapses allowed them in, however its early days and we have a few new faces and combinatons and its a case of finding our feet but we know we will get better. Man of the match was Toby Ford.

Next Saturday Midsomer Norton away ko 3pm