CLEVE lost another clash with a club near the top of the table on the artificial pitch at Chippenham.
Both teams were well-prepared, and it was Cleve who started most at ease, taking control for the first 10 minutes and going 7-0 up with a catch and drive after 15 minutes.
But Chippenham were up for the game, a reunion day for their club which had everyone well motivated.
The hosts went towards Cleve’s line and Ben Robinson bravely prevented a try five yards out, but from the resulting scrum Chippenham used a set backs move to score.
Cleve, who had narrowly lost their previous game to league leaders Trowbridge, then went 19-7 up with two tries, first after sending the ball along the line and then from a lineout.
Chippenham went on the attack, coming straight back to make the score 19-14 before Cleve produced the best move of the game so far, as Will Warman came into the line to score, making it 26-14.
The home side then scored three unanswered tries to wipe out Cleve’s lead and pull ahead 31-26 by half-time.
In what was one of the toughest games of the season, Chippenham were relentless. Cleve continually responded but could not get back in front and the match finished 52-40 to the home side.
In their next game, on January 31, Cleve bounced back with a big win over North Dorset.
This was a special day for several reasons.
Firstly, it was a reunion dinner day. Ex-players, sponsors and officials gathered at Cleve prior to the game for a meal and celebration.
Secondly, one of the acts of celebration was the opening of a corner of the Cleve ground that is a memorial wall, with plaques on it that have names of ex-players and officials who have passed away. A flagpole was also placed at the memorial garden. It was donated by the family of Stuart ‘Buzz’ Gaston, who died last year.
The game saw Cleve get back to winning ways in style, beating one of the Regional 2 Tribute Ale Severn division’s bottom two clubs by 47 points to 7.
The Cleve family of players, sponsors and officials had a wonderful day.
The next game against mid-table Thornbury reflected the weather we have been experiencing.
It was postponed twice due to a waterlogged pitch and was looking likely to be postponed again, but Thornbury persuaded a local school to rent them a pitch.
The game went ahead in very different surroundings. Due to the weather it was difficult to get to, but supporters overcame these problems.
Cleve also rose above the rain and pitch, to run out winners by 30 points to 19.
Steve Bateman