Old Redcliffians came out on top in this Bristol Junior Combination Plate final in a game that had just about everything.

Reds were leading 19-0 going into the final 10 minutes and seemed to be coasting to victory. But a spirited fight back by their Cleve counterparts meant that the Brislington side was franticly hanging on at the end as Cleve looked to pull off a dramatic last-gasp victory.

But Reds hung on and deserved to win as they dominated territory and possession. While, in centre Dale Shepherd they have a real match winner.

Shepherd caused the Cleve defence all sorts of problems from the opening whistle with his barn-storming charges in midfield. He crossed for a stunning solo try in the second-half and was unlucky to have a first-half effort chalked off as the referee had judged that he hadn't grounded the ball over the try line.

Reds opened their try account after just three minutes when flanker Kevin Chillcott barged his way over from close range for an unconverted try.

Cleve struggled to get any worthwhile possession in the first-half as Reds were camped in their 22, but for all of their territorial dominance Reds were unable to add to their early score in the opening period.

Cleve started the second half brightly with scrum-half Matty Atkins looking lively behind his pack and Tom Cox catching the eye at full-back for the Mangotsfield-based side.

But Reds extended their lead nine minutes into the half after Shepherd had once again broke through the defensive line and fed wing Tapiwa Munemo who raced in at the corner and touched down beneath the poles to give fly-half Ollie Conybeare an easier conversion.

Shepherd scored his try nine-minutes later after his determined 40-metre run ended with him diving in under the posts which was again converted by Conybeare to make it 19-0.At that point it looked like the flood-gates might begin to open.

But Cleve had other ideas and began to launch a magnificent come-back through their skipper Billy Abrahall.

The big No 8 gave Cleve a glimmer of hope when he out-flanked the defence to score an unconverted try out wide on the right with nine-minutes remaining.

Two minutes later Abrahall, who was the pick of the Cleve pack, repeated his earlier effort and when Cox landed the extras to make the score 19-12, the fairy-tale comeback was almost complete. But Old Reds were not going to be denied and managed to close the game out – much to the relief of their coach, Leighton Conybeare.

He said: "We were a bit worried in the last 10 minutes when they came back at us but we managed to keep them out. I think we had a bit more firepower out in the backs and I thought our pack was outstanding. Our hooker Harry Moody took a few strikes against the head and Martin Pirret played well at prop for us."

Cleve coach Steve Bracey said: "We were disappointed with our first-half display because we were letting them run through us. Our boys decided that they wanted to play in the second-half and we were much better.

"I think Old Reds were getting a bit worried because they thought they had it in the bag until we started getting some ball and coming back into it but we just ran out of time in the end."