Loan watch: Davies scores in emphatic Clifton win

National League Two West
Clifton 55-0 Newport

Fred Davies was on the scoresheet for Clifton as they powered to a 55-0 victory over Newport at Station Road on Saturday.

The platform for this decisive Clifton win was created by the outstanding scrummaging of their pack which propelled the Shropshire side’s eight backward at almost every scrum. Their forward power was underlined by number eight Brad Talbot who used his strength to complete a try hat trick

Early on Clifton debutant hooker Davies benefitted from a catch and drive to score but the visitor’s defence then held out until winger Zak Hamid sped into the corner to be followed by Talbot’s burst to open his account from another strong scrum, with Luke Cozens converting.

A succession of penalties enabled Clifton to advance before the interval with a slick handling move ending with flanker Dan Broady crossing to secure the try bonus point   

Some resolute Newport defence held the score line until pressure opened the gates for five further tries.  Lively scrum-half Spencer went under the posts and hard running gave Talbot two more.

Forward replacements Rhys Charalambous and Max Woodward completed a healthy tally, with Cozens adding four additional conversions.

Three Bears went up against each other in National League Two West as Dings edged out Hornets at The Nest.

Tom Sims started in the Hornets front row opposite Bears teammate George Kloska while Harry Ascherl lined up at fly-half for Dings, as they won 31-26 on the road. 

In the Championship Cup, Martin Mulhall started in the Hartpury front row as they beat Nottingham 33-19 at the Alpas Arena.

Pete Carter's Chew Valley suffered a rare defeat at the hands of Devenport Services, going down 16-10 in South West One.