Cinderford end season with big win over strugglers

Cinderford 67 v Waterloo 17

BACKS coach Phil Greenaway believes Cinderford exceeded all expectations by finishing fifth in National Two this season.

“It’s testament to how hard the guys have worked in training, especially during that winter period when we had seven weeks without a game,” he said.

“As a coaching staff, we always felt we would compete.

“But you still worry you might not have got things right.”

“There were other games we could have won, such as Cambridge and Blackheath at home, but sometimes you need those experiences to get out the other end.”

Against relegated Waterloo on Saturday, Cinderford ran in 10 tries.

Freddie Burns put over an early drop-goal before winger Adam Nicholls touched down in the corner on debut.

Quick hands and strong play from skipper Paul Knight put Nicholls over for his second try in the 12th minute. Burns converted again.

Knight was originally picked to play for Gloucestershire rather than Cinderford, but answered an SOS to play for his club side because they didn’t have a scrum-half.

Teenage full-back Mike Wilcox was next on the scoresheet with a well-taken try, converted by Burns.

Waterloo opened their account when Steve Briers went over for an unconverted touchdown.

Cinderford added three more tries before half-time through Knight, Adam Nicholls and Jake Carter. Two more conversions from Burns made it 41-5 at the break.

James Copsey, playing in the centre rather than on the wing, scored Cinderford’s seventh try early in the second-half.

The visitors continued to show plenty of commitment and were rewarded with a Carl Nolan score.

Carter went over for his second try and quickly followed up with another to complete a fine hat-trick.

Burns was on target with both conversions.

Mike Hale touched down for Waterloo but Cinderford had the final say – Knight dummying his way through the visitors’ defence down the blindside after some good build-up play from the forwards. Burns slotted the conversion.

Cinderford: Mike Wilcox, Andrew Nicholls, Alan Bryan, James Copsey, Jake Carter, Freddie Burns, Paul Knight (capt), Chris Bundy, Nigel Matthews, Andy Deacon, Rob Fidler, Chris Jones, Adam Nicholls, Chris McNeil, Rob James. Reps: Neil Bayliss, Jake Meadows, Dan Wright, Toby Wilson, Pete Towers.

GLOUCESTER Rugby Club blew their chances of reaching the Guinness Premiership final, but at least the county will have one representative in Saturday’s final.

Cinderford’s commercial manager Matt Bayliss has been named as the citing officer for the biggest game in the Guinness Premiership season between Leicester and London Irish.