Clifton crowned champions after victory at Bournemouth

Bournemouth 19 Clifton 25

Clifton clinched promotion back into the National Leagues and were crowned South West One champions after defeating fellow promotion contenders Bournemouth in a game that had everything as a spectacle.

But the victory was far from easy, as Clifton had to endure a late fightback by their hosts in a nail-biting final quarter but just managed to hang on to claim the spoils and become the first away team to win a league match at Chapel Gate this season.

Clifton opened the scoring in the third minute with fly-half John Barnes slotting a penalty from in front of the posts, but the home side hit back three minutes later when prolific wing Mike Pope went in at the corner to make it 5-3.

Both teams showed flashes of brilliance and resolute defence as the game ebbed and flowed with both packs trying to establish some sort of dominance over their counterparts.

Clifton got the breakthrough in the 33rd minute after a patient build-up saw centre Andy Bell dash in for a converted try to make it 10-5 going into the interval.

In the 44th minute Clifton wing Rob Viol got in on the act when he snatched an interception and raced in under the posts. Barnes converted. Viol's second try came 10 minutes later when he chased a clever switch-kick by Barnes and won the race to the touch down, giving Clifton a 22-5 cushion going into the final quarter.

But the contest was far from over as the hosts threw everything into their attacks and ran the ball from all over the park in an attempt to cling on to their unbeaten home league record.

Bournemouth clawed their way back with a 67th-minute try from centre James Payne, who scored out on the left. This was converted by fly-half Puks Ngapaku. Twelve minutes later Bournemouth struck again with a superb effort by wing Anthony Dunkerley again converted by Ngapaku to bring the home side to within three points going into injury time.

Clifton thennoticeably switched tactics and kept the ball tight among the forwards in an attempt to try to close the game out. The move paid dividends as Bournemouth were unable to get hold of the ball and went further behind when Barnes added a sweetly-struck drop goal making it 25-19.

From the restart, Clifton were awarded a penalty and, with no more time left to play, Barnes kicked the ball off the pitch to signal the end of the match and the start of the celebrations for worthy champions Clifton.