Crusaders RFC, get in !!!! On a swealtering afternoon in Lockleaze Dings defeated near neighbours and bitter, if not necessary old, rivals Clifton in what could be said was a pretty much deserved victory.

Apart from a bit of a wobble either side of half time when they allowed the visitors take the lead, albeit from a penalty try, Dings pretty much dominated the game. From my position behind the Clifton line in the first half all I could hear the Clifton captain say was “come on, heads up, back at them” as Mark Woodrow kicked the Dings to a 13 point lead with two penalties and a sublime kick out wide for winger Taylor Stephens to collect and touch down.

Conceding a try right beneath the posts with the last play of the first half and a penalty try with minutes of the restart saw Dings behind for the only period of the game 13 – 14. That only lasted five minutes as Dings retook the lead with a catch and drive from the line out with Dave Wheeler getting the touch down. Two further Woodrow penalties saw Dings put the result well beyond Clifton’s grasp.

For those who see Dings in the middle of the table surrounded by six teams all on five points and are not aware, we are to be deducted six points, five points for having an unregistered player on the bench. Despite not playing and having no affect on the outcome, rules are rules and we broke them so we also lose the bonus point we won so sit bottom on minus one. (also the graphic shows three relegation places where this season due to Rugby Lions withdrawal there are only two).

But I’d rather be in our position with a good victory and a narrow defeat under our belt than other teams above us without a point to their name and some pretty heavy defeats. One of these teams just happens to be the opposition next Saturday the renamed Taunton Titans,

photos of the game by yours truly and an extensive match report by John White can be read here