Clevedon RFC delivered a lacklustre performance but Ethan Thomas’ last-gasp drop goal helped the Seasiders beat Cleve 18-16 in the Counties 1 Tribute Western North on a cold and foggy day at Coleridge Vale last Saturday. 

The hosts started brightly with Matt Fisher looking threatening on the right-wing and following his nice break and strong work from the pack the ball was spread to the left for Ben Smith to continue his recent good form and crash over for a try after seven minutes.

This spurred the visitors into life as they started to dominate to breakdowns and Clevedon started to concede penalties at regular intervals and it was no surprise the visitors took the lead when punishing a mix up in defence with a try of their own after 26 minutes.

The Blue and Golds bounced straight back and earned a penalty at the scrum which Thomas knocked over to level at eight points each.

The game was now becoming disjointed with regular Cleve injury breaks frustrating Clevedon and breaking up any momentum. The visitors took advantage of the frustration and punished some further confusion from the home lineout to take the lead after 38 minutes to make it 13-8 at half-time.

Clevedon introduced player coach Alex Giltrow during the break with the instruction to return to basics, play in good areas and attack the visitors at set pieces.

Cleve, however, gained an early foothold and looked destined to increase there lead however the home defence held strong with Rory McGuigan to the for and forced a turnover with there strong tackling.

With confidence now high the home side attacked and after several good phases the momentum was only killed by an illegal tackle which saw Cleve’s prop sent to the bin.

Now it was time for the home side’s turn to build some momentum, however, after several scrum penalties and with Matthew Mannion going close to scoring it looked like it wouldn’t be Clevedon’s day.

But with the sun disappearing and the freezing fog returning Clevedon clicked into gear, George Angel picked off a line-out and after strong runs from Alex Giltrow.

Fergus Cole and Callum Fear earned a penalty on the attacking 10-yard line, Thomas kicked to 10 yards out then the forwards took over as a strong drive forced the visitors over and crew touched down for a try which Thomas converted to put the blue and golds 15-13 ahead with 12 minutes to play.

Cleve were now throwing everything they had at the Seasiders but the home side’s set piece dominance was keeping them at bay until an off the ball incident saw Giltrow receive a yellow card after 73 minutes.

And from this penalty Cleve got a foothold in the Clevedon half and following several phases earned a kickable penalty which they converted to take the lead with three minutes to play.

Clevedon don’t know when to quit and with one minute on the clock, following another Cleve injury, re-introduced Will Trollope and James Lugtig and gambled on playing a back short.

From the resultant scrum Brian Largenton and Lugtig tore apart the visiting pack earning a penalty which Thomas put into touch just outside the 22, Jack Crew found Angel from the line-out and the pack got the line out drive going.

Cleve infringed and with the referee playing advantage, following great work from Joel Gitrow, to set up Joe Williams and he found Ethan Thomas to slot the winning drop goal.