CLEVE’S great start to the season in the Counties 1 Tribute Western North division continued with a 39-10 win over Gloucester club Gordon League.
The Mangotsfield-based side have now won all ten of their opening fixtures.
Cleve were proud to start the game against Gordon League with 14 home-grown players. Harry O’Donnell was back in the first team, and it looked a very strong group of players.
The game kicked off later than normal, at 3pm, due to the visit of a London Society referee.
Not surprisingly when the game started Cleve showed they had a rock-solid scrum.
However after several errors, League got into Cleve’s 22 and scored the opening penalty.
Cleve now began to control the game, however, with Matt Jarvis kicking to the corners, pinning League down.
Cleve showed exceptionally good ball movement across the backs, but errors were again creeping into their game, proving costly as they relieved the pressure on League.
A good kick return by our full-back led to a scrum. Cleve were now in the ascendancy and the ball was moved to winger Henry Wilstead, who scored.
From the kick-off after the try, Harry Casson got hold of the ball and drove into the heart of the League forwards. A ruck was efficiently won, and the ball was moved wide by Matt Jarvis and one of Cleve’s centres scored to put the home side 12-3 ahead.
O’Donnell now came alive with some superb tackling in Cleve’s own 22 to snaffle the ball.
Cleve again kicked the ball well, which led to a touch down followed by a conversion by Jarvis to make it 19-3, with Cleve in control of the game.
After Cleve again passed the ball well along the line, they won a penalty and Jarvis put the ball close to the line, where Cleve used their familiar catch and drive tactics to score.
Leading 24-3 at half-time, Cleve’s superb scrummaging continued after the break.
Starting five yards from League’s try-line. Cleve’s powerful forwards pushed the scrum over and scored.
At this point the front row now consisted of Steve Bush, O’Donnell and Tom Pool. This was a formidable platform in the scrum, and gave League no end of problems.
The backs were also beginning to capitalise on the forwards’ good ball.
Andy Priddle, continuing his good form shown in the previous Cleve game, set up a scything break from his own 22, creating a try which was converted by Matt Jarvis.
As the game came to its end, League had the last act by scoring a breakaway try.
Steve Bateman