Foresters defeated by last kick of the game

Cinderford RFC 26 – 28 WHARFEDALE

HIGH-FLYING Wharfedale snatched Cinderford’s first victory of the season away from them in dramatic circumstances at Dockham Road with a last kick of the game penalty.

The Foresters were leading the nail-biter 26-25 and will be scantily consoled by two bonus points, one for scoring four tries and one for a losing bonus.

But the home team gave everything, especially head coach Phil Greenaway who led by example at fly-half, and they deserved their first win in National One for effort alone.

However, their North Yorkshire opponents continued their 100 per cent start and celebrated like a cup final win at the end, showing how hard Cinderford had fought.

It looked like it was going to be a torrid afternoon for them when Wharfedale scored a converted try through Richard Rhodes after seven minutes following a rolling maul.

But the scores were level on 20 minutes when Robert Winchle scooted over in the corner and Ali Bressington converted after a scrum was preferred to a shot at goal.

Wharfedale’s eventual hero Mark Bedworth edged them in front with a penalty nine minutes later before Cinderford’s pressure was rewarded with two yellow cards to opposition forwards on 38 minutes.

The home side took advantage with two tries in four minutes to hold a 21-10 half-time lead.

First Danny Wright spun off a rolling maul to score in the corner before Bressington converted and then touched down himself out wide and added another two. With five minutes remaining of the sin bins, Dockham Road was stunned when Wharfedale full-back Simon Horsfall was allowed a free passage to the line two minutes in.

Bedworth converted to pull within four before adding another penalty on 54 minutes to set up a tense final half hour.

With Cinderford pushing for the win and try-scoring bonus, flanker Adam Nicholls went searching for Dewi Scourfield in Wharfedale’s 22 but only found Bedworth who ran in from 70 metres.

Bedworth missed the conversion but they led 25-21 after 57 minutes and Nicholls soon went from villain to hero when he dotted over in the corner 10 minutes later.

Unfortunately Bressington was unable to add to it in incredibly blustery conditions.

Then in injury-time came the heart-breaker when substitute George Evans was adjudged to be not releasing the ball near halfway and Bedworth nailed it impressively.

Cinderford: A Bressington; R Winchle, L Plummer, D Scourfield, R Haile; P Greenaway, P Knight; P Kennedy, N Matthews, A Deacon; D Bufton, D Wright; A Nicholls, W Foden, M Panaho. Replacements: J Smart, C Hall, G Evans, D Pointon, M Wilcox.

Wharfedale: S Horsfall; D Hall, C Malherbe, M Bedworth, I Culligan; L Gray, D Matthews; T Horner, S Graham, M Chivers; R Rhodes, O Renton;L Makaafi, D Solomi, R Baldwin. Replacements: A Mason, G Hindle, R Brown, A Black, L Dixon.