The Seasiders pushed the division’s champions elect all the way and will be disappointed not to have left with more than just a losing bonus-point, crossing for three tries courtesy of Brian Largenton, Mike Taylor and Andy Davis – while Taylor kicked seven points to go past 200 for the season.

The visitors made a dream start to the game, with Taylor scything through the defence on half-way, before finding Tom Thie with a long pass.

Thie was adjudged to have been held up over the line, but from the resulting scrum, Davis was stopped two yards short and Largenton powered his way over to open the scoring.

Taylor added the extras, but the league leaders came powering back into the game with two tries and a penalty to take a 15-7 lead.

Clevedon continued to trouble the host’s defence and registered their second try of the afternoon in slick fashion – after a strong carry from Jack Williams in the loose, Ashfield’s brilliant offload found the supporting Taylor to gallop in under the posts for a converted try.

Cleve crossed again five minutes before half-time following some flaky Clevedon defending, before Taylor made up for two earlier misses from the kicking tee by notching a 50 metre effort on the stroke of half-time to send the sides into the break at 20-17.

The second-half saw Clevedon’s lineout begin to exert its dominance on the home side, but it was Cleve who struck next, going over in the right-hand corner for their fourth of the afternoon.

The visitors, however, were in no mood to surrender and created chances without being able to apply the finishing touches.

Cleve continued to move the ball with pace and fluency, but Clevedon’s scramble defence prevented them from adding to their tally.

Instead, Clevedon closed the gap once again with a well-worked try in the right-hand corner.

Chris Warren’s surge into the Cleve 22 created an opening out wide - and neat offloading from Rory Biggins, Mike Lowis and Tom Thie freed up number eight Andy Davis to score in the corner.

Both sides continue to go at each other right up until the final whistle, but Clevedon were forced to settle for a losing bonus-point from a blockbuster encounter.

There were impressive performances in the blue and gold from the back-row of Biggins, Foley and Davis – while Jack Williams in the number two shirt, also put in a strong shift.

Clevedon host North Petherton on Saturday in the first of three consecutive home games – kick-off is 2.30pm.