Junior rugby: Clevedon Under-14s 24 Winscombe Under-14s 5: Clevedon moved into the next round of the Under-14 Combination Cup after fending off a committed Winscombe side in a compelling derby clash at Coleridge Vale.

With little to choose between the sides, ultimately it was the Seasiders' clinical finishing power that proved decisive.

That was the view of Clevedon's head coach, Colin Robinson, who said: "Both teams created scoring opportunities but I think we took all of our chances when they came along. We were up against a much bigger pack today and I thought our forwards were magnificent out there.

"We only had one replacement and we asked a few lads to play out of position. Ryan Brown played at lock and Steve Davis helped out at full-back when normally they both play at prop. But for me Josh Blannin was superb in the centre for us and I was really happy with our discipline."

Winscombe had the better of the early exchanges but it was the home side who struck first. In the fifth minute, a Winscombe attack broke down close to the halfway line and the turnover ball was moved along the Clevedon back line to Ciaran Moran. The No 8 threw a perfect dummy then raced in from 45 metres to score under the posts for an unconverted try.

Back came Winscombe nine minutes later with a well-worked blindside move which was finished off by wing Jack Pope to bring the teams back on level terms.

Both teams were intent on playing open, running rugby even though they were playing in difficult conditions. Winscombe sent wave after wave of attacks into the heart of the Clevedon defence with flanker Alex Colbourne and prop Oli Winter in great form for the visitors but the home defence held firm to take the teams into the break locked at 5-5

Clevedon, now playing with the wind at their backs, used the conditions to their advantage and played mainly in the opponents' half. But the try of the match began deep inside their own territory when, again from a turnover, the ball reached Blannin inside his own half. The centre sidestepped past three would-be tacklers before swerving past the covering defender and gliding in under the posts for the try. Scrum-half Ed Cawse converted.

Eight minutes later, it was Blannin's centre partner, George McMullen's, turn to cross the whitewash. It was again converted by Cawse, whose tactical kicking and slick service was a feature of the game.

Star man Blannin had the last word with his second try to put the final seal on Clevedon's victory.

Winscombe coach Roger Marshall said: "They had a couple of game-breakers in their backline that we struggled to contain. Technically we played well but tactically we were a bit naïve.

"We had our fair share of possession but we tried to play a bit too much rugby in the first half instead of punching up the middle before we went wide."