Joyce shines as Clifton clinch third

By MIKE BARBER

Barnstaple………….. 12 Clifton…………………..52

WILL Joyce was instrumental in Clifton’s second-half surge as they moved through the gears to secure third place in the league table with a big win at Barnstaple.

Clifton opened the scoring after five minutes when Jac Lloyd skipped through the Barum defence before Alex Kilbane crossed.

Alex Giltrow finished off a typical score for Clifton after slick hands from Joe Owen, who was once again imperious in the loose.

Jac Lloyd tormented the Barnstaple defence and cut through just before half-time.

Barnstaple, however, would not lie down and came back with two good scores where they once again exposed Clifton’s frailties against driving lineouts. Martinas Dromontas and Winston James came up with the scores, with Jacob Murphy converting the second.

Joyce’s introduction at the start of the second half proved timely, pulling the strings as the game opened up.

He sent Tomos Gwilliam over before Max Woodward crossed after some superb interplay.

Kilbane grabbed his second before Sam Turner finished off the scoring for the Lavender and Blacks.

Lloyd added four conversions and Luke Cozens kicked two.