Tough game, Barnes led for most of the game but outscored in the final minutes

For most of this game it seemed as if Clifton had agreed to vote for the result being an away win for Barnes. But later, towards the end, they withdrew their support for that outcome and despite great resistance by the visitors changed the result at the last minute.

Before the action I'd like to say that, as is common in match reports the reporter usually mentions players who score points and others who catch his or her eye while the efforts of the majority of players go unmentioned. This scribbler apologies for his limitations, acknowledging that he is frequently unable to identify many key moments and individuals who make significant contributions to scores and the result.

The home team secured the visitors' high kick-off and the pack started a driving maul that resulted in their penalty 16 metres from halfway. The kick took them to the opposition 10 metre line where they chose to have the first scrum having been awarded a free-kick at the line-out. From that they advanced to just outside the 22 with 5 close phases to get the second penalty near midfield and their fly-half, whose surname is Barnes, kicked the points at 3 minutes.

An error at the take following the high restart resulted in a scrum for the visitors at their opponents' 22. Next their fly-half kicked to touch 12 metres out; the line-out resulted in a scrum for the defence a metre closer to the line. From that Clifton soon cleared to touch 30 metres out. Following this line-out Barnes recycled close twice then went wider with wing Martey, off his wing, breaking through in midfield into the 22. At the second recycle after the break fly-half Hammett saw space and put inside centre Van Buuren through and he sent no. 8 Hind to the posts after 9 minutes. The fly-half added.

The visitors soon returned the restart with an up-and-under that was dropped by an opposition player resulting in a scrum 5 metres from halfway. Barnes got the ball way under pressure and used another up-and-under that Clifton dropped; the visitors got the ball and went wide and made ground to the 22 where the defence forced an error to get a scrum put-in. From that the home team went wide, recycled twice then broke through; after another recycle they tried a high kick. Barnes dealt with that and after a recycle Hammett put the ball into touch 20 metres from Clifton's line. From the line-out the ball was cleared to touch a metre from halfway. At the line-out they only just secured their ball but from it hooker Ruddock broke away to send scrumhalf Davies to the line wide out at 18 minutes. Hammett added.

The high restart was not dealt with but did result in a scrum for the visitors 28 metres out. They soon kicked for territory from that, then Clifton ran the ball back and put together 8 good mixed phases before an offload was dropped then picked up by an offside player. Hammett kicked well again for a line-out 7 metres from the home team's line. From that Barnes tried to start a drive; it was too loose and was forced down by the defence which then got a scrum 9 metres out. At first they kept the ball in to drive but did not protect their ball coming out and Barnes forced a turnover; they recycled close or tight 5 times before prop Hunter forced his way over not far from the posts after 24 minutes. Hammett added.

Clifton's no. 8 Gibbons caught his team's high restart and went on to 8 metres out. The home team recycled 5 times, wider than previously, then a pass and a chip over resulted in their first try. An unpredictable bounce of the ball behind the line evaded defending visitors and was claimed by Clifton wing Sharp wide out at 28 minutes. Fly-half Barnes converted.

Clifton secured the high restart and soon used an up-and-under; the visitors replied with another. A player from each team competed for the ball in the air; the visitors were penalised and Clifton kicked for a line-out at their opponents' 22. An error soon gave Barnes a put-in a metre towards halfway after which they kicked for territory. The home team ran back using wider ball, breaking through strongly after 4 phases to get a penalty 26 metres out. The kick took them to 6 metres out where they threw their line-out to the front. Then they recycled close twice and once wider to get a man advantage for 10 minutes. This 5 metres out and they chose to have a scrum. After a back row pickup and 2 close recycles hooker Stratford forced his way over at the posts at 35 minutes. The fly-half added.

Clifton kicked back the restart into play; Hammett for the visitors sent the ball into touch 7 metres from the opposition line. From the line-out the ball was cleared to touch almost to the 10 metre line. From this line-out Barnes' 10 and 12 tested the defence twice during 5 phases then the outside centre made a first half-break. The ball was recycled to no. 8 Hind who made another half-break and fed scrumhalf Davies who sent hooker Ruddock to the posts. Hammett added to make the scores 17 - 28 at halftime.

The visitors returned the second half restart with an up-and-under; two more kicks followed than Clifton used wider ball three times before kicking ahead again. Barnes kicked once more to the opposition 22 then Clifton did the equivalent. After a couple more phases the visitors used an up-and-under; Clifton dealt with that and made good ground to get a penalty 12 metres into the visitors' half. The kick took them just inside the 22 then another penalty at or just after the line-out was awarded in midfield at the 22 and their fly-half reduced the deficit to 8 points before 5 minutes.

The restart was kicked out on the full giving Clifton a scrum back. From that their no. 8 made good ground then the ball was recycled wide to make more. Barnes then won a turnover and a penalty directly after. The kick took them to halfway; soon after the line-out they lost possession and Clifton kicked into the 22. Barnes cleared to touch 20 metres from halfway. Clifton went wide twice from the line-out then after two close phases the defence forced an error to get a scrum just outside the 22. At that they were awarded a free-kick which was sent to the opposition 22. Clifton ran back with two phases before Barnes forced an error to get another scrum near their opponents' 10 metre line. The home team's pack created pressure but Barnes got the ball out and the opposition were caught offside in midfield. At 15 minutes a long-range kick by Hammett restored the previous lead.

The visitors kicked back the restart: Clifton ran the ball with 8 varied phases before being turned over. Barnes kicked to touch 16 metres from the far goal line. Clifton soon kicked for territory from their line-out; the visitors ran back strongly before losing possession; the home team kicked ahead and the opposition fly-half tried an off-the-cuff drop-goal which nearly went over. Clifton regained from their 22 drop-out and advanced with 5 phases to their put-in 4 metres from halfway. They went wide from that and advanced to get a penalty 7 metres ahead that they kicked to just outside the other 22. From this line-out they released to centre then recycled close 3 times. Next an offload was intercepted by the visitors' fullback who cleared to touch 17 metres from halfway. A switch of play after the line-out then 4 mostly close phases got Clifton a penalty 16 metres past halfway that was kicked to almost 5 metres out. The ball was kept in but their pack was penalised and the defence kicked for another line-out 30 metres out. After it the visitors used an up-and-under that the opposition dealt with. After 3 recycles Clifton kicked ahead; Barnes soon used an up-and-under that went out on the full, but had been touched by an opposition player, giving then another line-out less than 4 metres from halfway. This was judged to have been thrown not-straight and from their scrum the home team released to centre and advanced well before being dispossessed. Barnes ran a bit then soon used another up-and-under; Clifton got the ball and kept it for 5 phases before the opposition hacked a loose ball nearly to the 22. The defence got back and made ground to get a penalty near their 10 metre line. The kick took them to just outside the visitors' 22. From the line-out Clifton first kept the ball in for a small advance then recycled close 3 times with another small advance. With the next recycle their fly-half, who had almost always previously passed or kicked, stepped and cruised to the line not far from the posts at 33 minutes. He converted to make the score 27 - 28 at 33 minutes.

Clifton kicked back the restart; Barnes used an up-and-under into the 22 and one of their players got to the ball first but just knocked it on 12 metres out. The visitors were penalised at the scrum then the kick took the home team to 4 metres from halfway. From there Clifton put together their best set of phases, 19 altogether, starting with a good break by their hooker then further on two other good advances then 6 close recycles not far from the defence line. This resulted in a penalty 5 metres out. They chose a scrum; this went down and had to be reset. From that they kept the ball tight for 9 recycles then tried wider and a couple more phases resulted in another penalty 5 metres out. Another scrum resulted in another penalty then another scrum then a yellow card to a Barnes' prop. This meant uncontested scrums; from just one, 7 tight recycles got flanker Uren over for the lead. Heroic defence but great concentration from Clifton to avoid errors in their recycling. The fly-half added before the whistle which went 63 minutes after the start of the second half and 45 minutes playing time apart from stoppages.

Dry, cool and bright, some wind but not a lot; the pitch good as always there.

Barnes were unable to field their men's 2nd team to unavailability and injury.