WESTCLIFF slumped to a 59-14 defeat at Clifton in National Two South.

Westcliff make their first ever trip to the Bristol-based club on the back of a morale-boosting win against Redruth.

But Westcliff’s first team manager Rick Compton admitted the visitors had been second best for the majority of the afternoon.

“We were well beaten on the day and were only competitive for 40 minutes,” said Compton.

“The first and last 20 were not good enough and quality teams like Clifton will expose you as they did if you allow them to.

“It’s a disappointment but days like these will happen from time to time.

“We had by necessity some square pegs in round holes and were found out.”

And Westcliff also suffered further setbacks throughout the course of the afternoon.

“We picked up injuries throughout the game which further hindered us but as ever the effort and commitment from the lads was spot on,” said Compton.

“It’s a game from which we have already moved on as we look forward instead to our game next week at our new home against Esher.”

Westcliff were forced into several changes for Saturday’s clash and were immediately on the back foot.

They were off the pace set by the home team and quickly fell behind to a converted try after just two minutes.

Two more converted tries in the first 20 minutes gave the visitors a commanding 21-0 lead and as the game entered the second quarter Westcliff were still chasing shadows.

In the next 10 minutes, however, Westcliff raised their game and hit back, mounting a series of attacks and applying pressure of their own for the first time.

During this period they scored through Sam Reynolds and Ewan Binneman which, with both tries being converted by Greg Bannister, brought them back to within a score at 21-14.

They continued to probe for the rest of the half but in the last play Clifton found their way around the outside and once more scored a converted try to lead 28-14 at the break.

There was a sense that there was still an opportunity for the visitors at the start of the second half and the next 20 minutes was evenly and earnestly contested with neither side scoring.

However, as the game entered the final 20 minutes Clifton reasserted their superiority and in an ugly period for the visitors, they leaked five tries as injuries caught up with Westcliff and their levels dropped.

That resulted in a comprehensive 59-14 win for the hosts and a disappointing and difficult afternoon for the visitors.

Westcliff, who were promoted from the London & SE Premier Division last season, are second from bottom in the standings and will now be looking to bounce back at home to Esher.

Westcliff: Hogarth, James, Webber, Marsh, Radzevicius, Bannister, Bolton, Weston, Morrant, Binneman, Scogings, Dartnell, Lynch, Reynolds, Vandermolen.

Replacements: Parmenter, Johnson, Hussey, Hopkins & Barrett