Profligate kicking and unforced errors cost Shelford dear on Saturday as they travelled to Clifton attempting to reverse the narrow loss they incurred at the Davey Field earlier in the season.
 
Despite injuries to skipper, Alex Birkby, and top points scorer, Ed Gough, Shelford started strongly and turned early pressure into points through Tongan bulldozer, Aki Lea. A series of powerful forward drives down the left flank culminated in Lea forcing his way over the line for Shelford's first try. However, the lead was short-lived and unforced errors provided Clifton with an attacking 5-meter scrum. They executed a training ground move superbly and a deft flick from Clifton's number 8, John Levis, to scrum half, Adam Jones, presented an easy run in for Sam Kent. A few moments later, from a similar field position, a quick tap penalty resulted in a try for Adam Jones after Shelford were penalised at the scrum. Clifton soon got their third after a missed tackle in midfield resulted in a try for Greg Setherton, which John Barnes converted. Shelford outside half Tom Dann kept Shelford in the tie with a long range penalty, but Clifton took a healthy 17 - 8 lead into the interval.
 

Shelford took the game to their opponents at the start of the second half as they had done at the start of the first. Several passages of play down the right flank produced quick ball for the backs and Steve Glitherow cut a fine angle before offloading to Mark Erven to score Shelford's second try, which Dann converted. Shelford continue to apply the pressure and an infringement from the home team resulted in three more points for Dann, who was striking the ball superbly. This score put Shelford into the lead, 18 - 17.
 
However, with 5 minutes of play remaining, Shelford's Dane Grey was sent to the sin bin and Shelford's 14 men could not prevent Clifton from taking advantage of superior numbers. Firstly, Rob Viol was on hand to race in at the corner for Clifton's 4th try and then, with the last play of the game, Dean Taylor Mackenzie added a 5th from a driven line out to seal the win and claim the points.