Ex-Gloucester star sinks Cinderford

LONDON SCOTTISH 26 CINDERFORD 18

FORMER Gloucester utility back Simon Amor scored a late try to scupper Cinderford’s hopes of victory in National League One.

In a see-saw match, he went over in the dying minutes to clinch a win that helped move his side into second place and put Cinderford fourth from bottom.

Scottish took a first-minute lead when Frankie Neale slotted a penalty, but the Foresters hit back when a well-worked backs move ended with Rob Winchle touching down in the corner.

Neale doubled his penalty haul to put Scottish back in front and then, after Alistair Bressington had missed kicks for Cinderford, extended the lead to 11-5 after going over from a line-out.

The score remained unchanged until early in the second half when the home side’s David Howells raced on to a James Brown kick to a corner for a try which put Scottish 16-5 in front.

The Foresters hit back and after two successful Bressington kicks had cut the lead, they went in front after taking advantage of a mistake in midfield by Scottish.

Paul Boston sprinted clear for a try, which Bressington converted for a 18-16 lead.

However, after Neale had kicked a penalty to put Scottish one point in front, former cherry and white star Amor made the pressure pay with his late try.

London Scottish: Neale, Piotrowski, Mcinroy, Trueman, Howells, Brown, Amor, M Johnson, Silvester, Fahey, Karonias, Palmer, Lonergan, Lipps.

Reps: Standfield, C Johnson, Ball, Bolley, Damant.

Cinderford: Bressington, Winchle, Plummer, Scourfield, Haile, Pointin, Knight, Smart, Matthews, Deacon, Bufton, Jones, Foden, McNeil, Evans.

Reps: Kennedy, Banoho, Wilcox, Boston, Fortey.

Source: thisisgloucestershire

Cinderford make changes for London Scottish clash

FULL-BACK Brett Turner is unavailable for Cinderford’s trip to London Scottish because he has mumps. Alistair Bressington replaces him. Phil Greenaway has a knee injury so Danny Pointon comes in at fly-half.

Joe Smart is selected at loosehead prop instead of Phil Kennedy, while Adam Nicholls and Chris McNeil return in the back-row, at the expense of Mike Panoho and Will Foden.

Cinderford v London Scottish: A Bressington, R Haile, L Plummer, D Scourfield, R Winchle, D Pointon, P Knight (capt), J Smart, C Hall, A Deacon, D Bufton, C Jones, A Nicholls, C McNeil, G Evans.

Reps to be announced.

Foresters travel to Scottish on a high

CINDERFORD director of rugby operations Pete Glanville insists there is no better time for his team to be visiting London Scottish tomorrow.

Big-spending Scottish have won six of their eight National One matches so far this season and sit second in the table after strolling to promotion last year and have only lost at title rivals Esher and Cambridge.

But the Foresters have won their last three fixtures in a row after losing their first five of the campaign and Glanville (pictured right) says they are growing in self confidence.

“We have a tough ask at London Scottish away but we could not go into it better prepared,” he said.

“When we played them a few years ago we only lost by a point there and we beat them here so we are looking forward to going up there and hopefully pulling off another shock win.

“We are starting to have a bit of self belief now. We have now had three wins on the bounce and the guys are starting to believe in themselves a bit more which is good.”

In their five defeats at the start of the season, Cinderford conceded nearly 200 points in total, at an average of nearly 40 a game, but since then they have managed to stem the tide.

In their first win of the season at lowly Manchester three weeks ago Cinderford only conceded a penalty in their 93-3 victory.

A week later they did the same when they managed to keep out one of the sides in the top half of the table, Otley, in a 26-3 win which was their first success at Dockham Road this season.

And after beating one of last year’s promotion chasers Redruth 23-15 at home last weekend, Glanville says they have been working hard on their defence.

“Defence is something we have worked really hard on and at the end of the day it is the back bone of your game,” he added.

“Against Otley two weeks ago we denied them no tries whatsoever and last week against Redruth they only scored two tries.

“It is just a testament to the guys really. We are a new squad and we are starting to gel now as a team and Phil (Greenaway, head coach) and Lee (Fortey, forwards coach) are doing a great job making a team.”

Bayliss picked for Australia

FORWARDS coach Lee Fortey says Cinderford have nothing to fear when they go to London Scottish this week.

The Foresters have won three games in a row and Fortey believes that defensive improvements have been the major reason for the turnaround.

He said: “I know a few London Scottish players and I’ve watched some of their matches on DVD. They are beatable.

“We’ve just got to carry on playing the way we are. Things are starting to click and the defence has been excellent these past few weeks.

“People don’t realise how young some of our players are. Take Luke Plummer, he’s a big lad but he’s only 19. He’s starting to show people what he can do.”

* CINDERFORD’S commercial manager Matt Bayliss will be the citing officer for Gloucester’s clash with Australia at Kingsholm on Tuesday November 3.

Bayliss, chairman of the Gloucestershire RFU disciplinary committee, has handled many Premiership clashes and Six Nations matches.

It will be his job to spot illegal play missed by the on-field officials.

Tewkesbury Under 9’s vs Cinderford Under 9’s

Tewkesbury Under 9’s vs Cinderford Under 9’s

Played at ‘The Moats’ Tewkesbury, Cinderford played two games of twenty minutes (ten minutes each way).

Cinderford started like demons and soon had Tewkesbury under a lot of pressure.  Defensively, Cinderford were playing their best of the season so far.  First to score was centre Lydia Handley who led the way with some fearless tackling.  A ball went loose, for Lydia to gather and score in the corner.  Fly half Harry Taylor was next to score weaving his way to the line through a number of Tewkesbury defenders.  Jack Worgan scored next from the scrum half position before Harry Taylor scored a second.  At half time Cinderford were 20 points to nil ahead.  Throughout the first half the Cinderford nine were excellent with forwards Caleb Whitmore and Fenn Edwards and Scott Hodder standing out.

Cinderford made four changes in the second half bringing on a new set of forwards in Harrison Peates, Ben Jones and Riley Baldwin.  Lewis Mason replaced winger Max Skipsey.  Tewkesbury too made some changes and the second half got under way.

Cinderford seemed to sit back on their laurels for a period as Tewkesbury scored twice to bring back the score to 20 points to 10.  With forward pressure being exerted by Cinderford, Jack Worgan popped a pass to Ben ‘Chunky’ Jones to crash over.  Tewkesbury scored again before Jack Worgan sprinted to the line to score his second try of the game and close out the scoring.  Cinderford ran out winners by 30 points to 15. 

During the game wingers Edwin Mathieson, Max Skipsey and Lewis Handley made some great runs with Edwin being denied twice, being barged in to touch as he made for the corner.

The second game was a closer affair with Tewkesbury wining by 25 points to 20.  Tewkesbury went quickly into a 15 point to nil lead as Cinderfords defence let them down on three occasions.   However, Cinderford kept themselves in touching distance getting back to within ten points by half time.  Cinderford scored two tries through fly half Harry Taylor and hooker Scott Hodder.

Some changes were made at half time, and Cinderford got to within five points as Jack Worgan pick up a loose ball in open play and crashed through.  Mid way through the half Caleb Whitmore made stunning break from the front of a lineout running a good 30 metres before being pushed into touch, an illegal move not called by the referee.  The laws of the game state that proper tackles must be attempted.  Tewkesbury scored again then Scott Hodder scored his second in reply for the final score of the match.

Squad: Cinderford Squad: Fenn Edwards, Harrison Peates, Edwin Mathieson, Harry Jones, Caleb Whitmore, Scott Hodder, Jack Worgan, Lydia Handley, Harry Taylor, Riley Baldwin, Lewis Handley, Max Skipsey, Ben ‘Chunky’ Jones

Neil Worg (Coach)

Cinderford make it three in a row

CINDERFORD RFC 23 – 15 REDRUTH RFC

CINDERFORD survived a late onslaught from the visitors to record their third victory in a row.

Redruth’s Mark Scrivener missed a relatively straightforward penalty five minutes from the end when his side were trailing 16-15.

The Cornishmen then literally threw away the bonus point – hastily tossing a line-out throw straight to Cinderford second-row Chris Jones, who gratefully took the chance to stroll beneath the posts. Brett Turner converted to end the match.

It was Turner who put Cinderford in front in the third minute with a long-range penalty.

The young full-back, who looked assured in all aspects of the game, made it 6-0 with a second penalty when Redruth were caught offside.

Cinderford, playing with a strong wind behind them, extended their lead with a third Turner penalty after some powerful driving play down the line from MIke Panoho and George Evans.

However, on the stroke of half-time, Richard Carroll drove over in the corner to give the visitors the first try of the game.

With the wind now against them and only a four-point lead in the bag, Cinderford had it all to do in the second-half. They started strongly though, despite having nothing to show for a good spell of pressure.

Eventually, they turned their possession into points with a try from winger Reuben Haile, who collected a pass down the line from Luke Plummer and brushed off a tackle to go in. Turner added a good conversion.

Redruth responded with their strongest spell of the match.

Scrivener reduced the deficit to 16-8 with a penalty, then full-back Paul Thirlby went in unopposed for his side’s second try. Cinderford’s Reuben Haile was scuffling on the floor with two Redruth players to leave Cinderford wide open on the right flank.

Scrivener’s conversion made it 15-8, but the fly-half’s bad penalty miss just minutes later threw Cinderford a lifeline.

The game still hung in the balance but Redruth’s gamble on a quick line-out deep inside their own half backfired spectacularly – much to the delight of try-scorer Jones and the Cinderford fans.

Cinderford: Brett Turner, Rob Winchle, Luke Plummer, Dewi Scourfield, Reuben Haile, Phil Greenaway, Paul Knight (capt), Phil Kennedy, Chris Hall, Andy Deacon, David Bufton, Chris Jones, Mike Panoho, Will Foden, George Evans. Reps used: Joe Smart (for Andy Deacon), Nigel Matthews (for Chris Hall), Chris McNeil (for Will Foden), Danny Pointon (for Phil Greenaway). Not used: Alistair Bressington. Attendance: 215.

Hall to start at hooker for Cinderford

Cinderford make one change for this week’s home clash with Redruth – bringing in Chris Hall at hooker for Nigel Matthews.

Skipper Paul Knight and player/coach Phil Greenway face late fitness tests on shoulder injuries.

“It’s nice to have two home games in a row and it would also be nice to have back-to-back wins,” said Greenaway.

“I don’t think Redruth are as strong as they were last season, though we will show them due respect and anticipate a tough challenge. I think they can be beaten, especially away from home.”

Cinderford v Redruth: B Turner, R Winchle, L Plummer, D Scourfield, R Haile, P Greenaway, P Knight (capt), P Kennedy, C Hall, A Deacon, D Bufton, C Jones, A Nicholls, W Foden, G Evans. Reps: J Smart, N Matthews, M Panoho, S Arnott, P Boston.

Seal of Approval presentation

Seal of Approval Presentation at Longlevens RFC On Friday 23rd October . By the RFU.

It has taken time to click – Greenaway

CINDERFORD head coach Phil Greenaway says his much-changed team are finally starting to come together after two consecutive wins in National One.

The Foresters lost a number of players in the summer and the period of transition was no more evident then in their four straight losses to start the season with.

But following wins over Manchester and their first victory at Dockham Road this season over Otley on Saturday, Greenaway is confident of adding to that run when they welcome Redruth tomorrow.

“There were so many changes over the summer, we’ve virtually got a new team,” he said.

“We haven’t conceded a try in the last two games and we defended well against Otley.

“We’ve got a lot of young players and it has taken time for everyone to get to know each other.”

Greenaway’s view has been echoed by forwards coach Lee Fortey, (pictued right) who joined the club in the summer following two successful years at Old Patesians in the old South West One.

As a former Gloucester and Worcester front row, Fortey says there is always going to be a bedding in process when there are so many changes.

And with both the forwards and the backs now finally starting to click together, Fortey says it is important they win their home games.

“The players have fronted up and played very well in the last three games and won at home and that is something we have said, we have to win our home games whether it is 5-0 or 3-0 it doesn’t matter,” Fortey said.

“We are playing well and there is some good rugby being played and the confidence is getting there and we are keeping our discipline.

“I think it is getting the players to know each other, you can see that in the back-line, people have the confidence and are trusting the calls.”
Source: thisisgloucestershire

Greenaway: I’m loving every minute

HEAD coach Phil Greenaway says he’s loving every minute of being in charge at Cinderford.

After a poor start to the season, Cinderford clinched their second win in a row at home to Otley by 26-3.

Redruth come to Dockham Road this week and Greenaway sees no reason why his side can’t cause a shock.

He said: “There were so many changes over the summer, we’ve virtually got a new team.

“Playing and coaching isn’t easy, but I’m really enjoying things.

“We haven’t conceded a try in the last two games and we defended well against Otley.

“We’ve got a lot of young players and it’s taken time for every one to get to know each other.

“Saturday’s performance was good and people like Will Foden have come in and taken their chances.”

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