Taunton Warriors 49 Clevedon 47

This was a close, nail-biting game, and for Clevedon their turning point was their first and last kicks at goal. Each team scored seven-tries but it was the boot of James Collins the Warriors outside half which made the difference by him converting every try and scoring 14 points to add to his seasons tally.

The first line out came from just three-minutes into the game with Charlie Webber rising majestically to secure the Clevedon’s throw in. The first scrum came after five-minutes with Clevedon’s much larger pack pushing the Warriors pack and it looked like it may be a long hard road for the Warriors in the scrums. However, as the game went on the Warriors pack adjusted and held firm with only a few exceptions when for ten-minutes they were reduced to fourteen players.

The first try came after eight-minutes when the Warriors dropped a pass and Clevedon capitalised on that drop to score in the corner. Clevedon’s first kick at goal was unsuccessful and thus they held a five-point lead. This lead lasted just three-minutes when some fine interplay allowed Errol Peason to burst through the centre to score the try which James Collins converted and the Warriors had a two-point lead. The game was taking shape with Clevedon using their power to go down “route 1” and the Warriors getting the ball wide to allow the skill and pace of the three-quarter line to show through. It was that movement and pace which resulted in the Warriors second try on fourteen minutes and anyone who is able to see the video of this try will see not a three-quarter but hooker Alex O’Brien using sidesteps at pace and racing through to score an outstanding try which James converted to take the Warriors to 14 points. Clevedon recognising that they did not have the pace to beat the Warriors, resorted to keeping the ball amongst their forwards and using their size to keep progressing forward. They were rewarded for this tactic on 20 and 33-minutes respectively with converted tries and finished the half with a slender lead of 19-points to 14.

The Warriors kicked off for the start of the second half and for the fourth consecutive time their pace at chasing the kick-off won them the ball, it came back to James Gailey who made the break and with just thirty seconds of the half gone he scored the try which Collins converted. Three-minutes later and Finn Tyson in support of another James Gailey break took the pass to score the Warriors fourth and bonus point try which Collins converted. The direct running of Clevedon with their big forwards was creating problems for the Warriors who continued to stop these big forwards but they conceded penalties and on forty-nine minutes Clevedon kicked a penalty to the corner and mauled the ball over the line bringing them to within two points of the Warriors.

On fifty-five minutes they took the lead with a converted try by a series of pick and drives from the maul. Just five minutes later some good skills and open running by both forwards and backs set Errol Pearson free for the Warriors to score the try which Collins converted to restore a two-point lead to the Warriors. Sixty-four minutes and the Warriors concede the penalty Clevedon kick to touch, win the lineout and maul to the line for the try which was converted just four minutes later and a similar move to give Clevedon a twelve-point lead. The Warriors needed the ball as the heavy forwards of Clevedon seemed to be tiring.

The Warriors were making half-breaks and creating chances and on seventy-one minutes Rares Horvat latched on to a ball from a break and raced through to score for Collins to convert. Eight-minutes left and just five-points in the game the Warriors kept possession and moved the ball and with just three-minutes left James Gailey raced through the gap to score the try which Collins converted and the Warriors had a two-point lead. Clevedon came back with real determination and with forty-minutes on the clock the Warriors conceded a penalty. The successful kick at goal would give Clevedon the win. With a respectful hushed crowd, that last kick of the game went to the outside of the posts and the Warriors had won a tense fourteen try exciting game.

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On Saturday the Warriors have a short trip along the motorway to play Hornets and would appreciate as many as can to go and support them.

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