Clifton took the lead after five minutes, when fly-half James Mackay kicked an early penalty. That lead was extended when after a long phase of attacking play, the ball came out to Fergus Manners to score the opening try for the visitors. With Mackay converting, Clifton led by 13 points.

Another penalty from the boot of Mackay increased Clifton's lead further and at this point in the game the visitors were on top.
Clifton looked to build on their lead and were rewarded when an incisive counter attack and break from centre Dan Wells, played the ball to wing Elias Caven who went crashing over the whitewash. With the try converted Clifton had scored 23 unanswered points.
Despite this, the home side looked to fight back. After putting pressure on the visitors defensive line, a rolling maul popped the ball out to Jamie Salter to grab the All Black's first try. The score now stood at 23 points to 5, but the home side had the momentum.
They grabbed another try just before half time, again the rolling maul was too powerful for Clifton to cope with and the home side powered over the try line. With the extras added by fly-half Rhys Brownfield, the half time score stood at 23-12 to Clifton.

Clifton looked to attack early and when they put the home side's defence under pressure after a long phase of attacking play, centre Sam Harrison crossed for the opening try of the half.
However, the home side pegged Clifton back immediately. After forcing the visitors back in to their own half, strong work from the forward pack worked the ball out to lock Ben Hilton to score. With Brownfield adding the extras, Clifton now only led by eleven points.
Winger Callum Roberts then settled Clifton nerves, when he found a gap in the All Black's defence to score a well worked individual try. With replacement Brad Barnes converting, the score stood at 37-19 to Clifton. A penalty from Barnes increased the visitors lead and after 68 minutes the home side were reduced to fourteen men when try scorer Hilton was sent to the sin-bin.

Clifton scored two more tries towards the end of the match. The first came when the lavender and black's looked to stretch the opposition, working the ball out to full-back Will Pomphrey to score.
The visitors then wrapped up the match, with centre Harrison showing some impressive footwork to score. With Brad Barnes again converting, the full time score was 54-19 to Clifton.

Speaking after the game, man of the match Sam Harrison told Clifton Rugby TV “I think we attacked very well, we countered very quickly and I think we won the game by simply keeping the scoreboard ticking over.”

written by: Fraser Andrews