Hornets stung by nine-try defeat

By ROGER ROPIE

Clifton…………………..63

Hornets………………… 17

Clifton ran in nine tries against a Hornets side that, in spite of the scoreline, showed spirit and character to exert pressure on their hosts for periods of time.

Ultimately it was the the home side’s ability to launch high tempo attacks from all over the pitch that saw them to victory.

Captain Will Owen gave his fellow backs every opportunity to show their ability behind a mobile pack in which prop Charlie Bullimore and Bristol Bears Joe Owen were prominent.

Fly half Zak Ward converted all nine tries with an immaculate display of kicking.

Scrum-half Danny Openshaw broke to open the scoring before a Sharp touchline run presented him with his second. In the second half another clean break gave Openshaw his hat-trick.

Full-back Alex Howman crossed twice either side of the interval with Rhys Charalambous powering across in the first half. Charlie Carter kicked a penalty for the Hornets and converted tries from Callum Lane and Josh Lloyd.

Alex Kilbane initiated the flood of second-half tries, Joe Owen crowned a storming performance by going under the posts with Mackenzie Duncan scoring his first touchdown to finish it.