CLIFTON recovered from a 12-point deficit shortly after the break to run out deserved winners in this entertaining West Country clash.
At times during the second half, Clifton produced some scintillating rugby.
Darren Lloyd, Clifton’s director of rugby, was particularly pleased with the character shown by his side as they recovered from the previous week’s heavy defeat at Southend.
Clifton struggled for possession in the early stages, as Redruth, with some well-organised rugby, put the home side under considerable pressure.
Clifton’s defensive line held firm, but they two close-range penalties from full-back Brett Rule gave Redruth a 6-0 advantage.
In the 18th minute, Clifton lock Darren Barry, who dominated the line-out throughout, came away from a ruck before passing to man-of-the-match Jack Gadd. He changing the direction of the attack and fed lock Harrison Tovey, who sped down the touchline and beat several players before scoring in the corner.
Ben Roberts, who cleverly varied his play at fly-half throughout the game, landed the conversion to put 7-6 ahead.
Clifton conceded a further penalty on the half-hour, kicked by Rule, and lost full-back David Rees to the sin-bin. Rees was injured in the passage of play and was replaced by Dan Venn.
Just before half-time, Redruth fly-half Paul Thirlby intercepted on the halfway line and raced to the line for a try. Rule kicked the conversion and added a penalty at the start of the second half to stretch Redruth’s lead to 19-7.
Gadd began to impose himself on the action and he combined with winger Sam Smith to put acting full-back Will Pomphrey in at the posts. Roberts kicked the conversion and, shortly afterwards, added a penalty.
Clifton began to play at a pace Redruth’s defence could not live with.
Reward came for Clifton when Gadd stepped outside his man to score. Roberts added the extras.
The visitors levelled the scores when winger Tom Notman went over in the corner.
The deciding score came in the closing stages and was scored in an unusual way.
Roberts chipped over the Redruth defence with the intention of following up to score as the ball went into the in-goal area. But the ball hit the crossbar and ballooned back into play, where winger James Stark gathered to score under the posts and secure a try-bonus point. Roberts kicked the conversion.
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