North Bristol 2nds 32 Cleve 3rds 12

NORTH Bristol seconds took on Cleve thirds on Saturday and the first twenty minutes showed Cleve dominating territorially, but North’s pace and elusive running created most of the excitement and all of the scoring in a lead of 15-0.

Jay Woodley’s initial break from the deep, left Lance Cassemis to scorch in from 80 metres.

Phil Cresswell, North’s elusive man of the match, then broke and fed supporting scrum-half, Callum Rodriguez, to score North’s second try.

Cassemis scored a third long distance effort, from a Peter Swallow assist, to give his side a 15-0 half-time lead.

The visitors replied with a converted try at 15-7 straight after the break and North, led by hard tackling skipper, Joey O’Leary, found themselves scrabbling and having to work hard in defence.

When they revisited their early winning formula, North ran the ball down the back line to give Jay Woodley the overlap and a left-hand corner try in a 20-7 lead.

Regrettably, this was soon followed by some dreadful home tackling, from which Cleve took advantage to score at 20-12.

Despite several defensive lapses, North Bristol continued to attack.

Replacement, Chris Ball’s first touch brought a disallowed try after a forward pass, but then great scrummaging produced good possession for centre Phil Cresswell to crash over and nudge North Bristol to 32-12 ahead.

North’s influential broken-field runners, Max Fox-Holmes, Lance Cassemis and Phil Cresswell all impressed, though the grafters upfront, Joey O’Leary, Billy Collins and Steve Chappell provided their platform.

Finally, it was an Cresswell who crossed for the game’s last try, converted by Jay Woodley, that took North to a worthy 39-12 triumph.

North Bristol team: C. Hazzard, Worgan, A. Vittle, B. Collins, Matt Stone, Joey O’Leary (C), G. Subdee, S. Chappell, C. Rodriguez, Lance Cassemis, Peter Swallow, Phil Cresswell, Max Fox-Holmes, J. Woodley, Vince Tesson Reps: T. Booth, D. Vittle, Morris Simons, Chris Ball