Cinderford in a relegation battle
National League One
Cinderford 24 – Cambridge 31
IN-FORM Cambridge avenged their defeat to Cinderford earlier in the season in this incident packed match.
Cinderford contributed much to the game, but for the second week running their defence leaked more than 30 points.
They also failed to take full advantage of two Cambridge yellow cards. Toby Berridge was sin-binned on the half-hour mark, with Karl Rudzski leaving the field five minutes from time.
Cambridge scored first when powerful centre Alex Dodge broke through the midfield and off-loaded to try-scoring machine Handre Schimdt, who didn’t need a second invitation to exploit the available space. Will Martin converted.
Cinderford were soon level, thanks to an interception try by Rob Winchle, converted by Danny Trigg.
The Cambridge scrum repeatedly caved in under pressure from the home pack and a Trigg penalty put Cinderford 10-7 up at the interval.
Cambridge’s big and mobile back five created openings for the backs and a sweeping move produced a try for wing Tony Berridge, converted by Martin.
Again Cinderford bounced back, fly-half Matt James breaking through the midfield before releasing Winchle for a second score. Trigg converted from the touchline.
Martin’s penalty made it 17-17 but Cinderford had the upper hand.
In the final quarter, Cambridge rallied with some powerful play.
Gareth McComb and Dan Hunter broke through Cinderford’s tiring defence for tries, with Martin converting both to put his side 31-17 ahead.
Paul Boston squeezed in at the corner from a long Matt James pass to keep the game alive, with Trigg landing another fine conversion.
Cinderford threw everything at Cambridge in the final minutes, but the visitors’ 14-man defence was solid.
This match was preceded by a minute’s silence for Grant Taylor, who died last week.
Grant came through the Cinderford ranks and played for the club for many years. He also played for Westbury-on-Severn.
Cinderford: Danny Trigg, Rob Winchle, Paul Boston, Dave Knight, Kyle Palm (Tim Stevenson 45), Matt James, Danny Pointon (Sam Arnott, 67), Jake Meadows, Chris Hall, Andy Deacon (Shaun Knight 45), Dave Bufton, Ed King, Rob James, Marcus Brown (Dan Hall, 60), George Evans. Other rep: Lee Fortey. Attendance: 250
Cinderford win away at Cambridge
CAMBRIDGE RFC 10 v 27 CINDERFORD RFC
National League One
HALF-BACKS Paul Knight and Matt James inspired Cinderford to this deserved away victory.
Cambridge took an early lead, courtesy of a long range penalty from Tom Wheatcroft.
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The home forwards then created a try for prop Ben Cooper, converted by Wheatcroft, to make it 10-0 inside 12 minutes.
Cinderford’s response was swift and emphatic.
A weak Cambridge clearance was returned with interest, before the impressive Matt James finished off a great team move. James also converted the try.
Winger Rob Winchle went over in the corner for Cinderford’s second try after gathering a cross-field kick from James.
Cambridge number eight Dave Archer was sent off for stamping in the 27th minute before James grabbed his second try, to make it 17-10 at the break.
Paul Boston intercepted a loose ball on halfway before sending James to the line.
Despite being a man down, Cambridge went for broke in the second-half. Cinderford’s defence was solid, however, and they played some patient, effective rugby.
James kicked a penalty to extend the lead, then 10 minutes from time converted a Chris McNeil try from wide out. That gave the Kiwi fly-half a personal points haul of 17.
Cinderford: Stefan Hawley, Rob Winchle, Paul Boston, Dewi Scourfield, Olly Winterbottom (rep Danny Pointon 56), Matt James, Paul Knight (capt, rep Lee Fortey 73), Phil Kennedy, Chris Hall (rep Mike Panaho 63), Andy Deacon, Danny Wright, Dave Bufton, Will Foden, Chris McNeil (rep Tito Elisara 73), George Evans. Other Rep: Adrian Duncan.
CINDERFORD United beat Loughborough’s Development XV 32-14 with tries from Nevaro Codlin (2) and Sam Arnott (2). Tim Stevenson kicked three conversions and two penalties in an outstanding team effort.
Foresters aiming to build on win
CINDERFORD are hoping their 73-0 win over Manchester last week will help kick-start a more successful second half of their National Two campaign.
The Foresters lost their first five games of the season before a convincing 93-3 victory in Manchester sent them on a three-game winning streak.
However, the Dockham Road outfit travel to fifth placed Cambridge this weekend and forwards coach Lee Fortey says it will be a big ask to build on last week’s win.
“It is going to help breed a bit of confidence for the side,” he said.
“If you look at the league, a lot of those teams are not going to be like Manchester so every game is going to be difficult.
“We know the second half of the season is going to be a big ask to turn it around and start getting some results but we have spoken about it and we have to start going to places like Cambridge and get some results.
“It is going to be a very close game, they are a good side at home. Hopefully we can get an upset.”
Cinderford and Cambridge have not met yet this season giving the Foresters the chance to spring a surprise on their opponents.
With more players in the squad than ever, competition for places is strong and the former Worcester and Gloucester prop says they can reap the benefits of that.
“There were 38 players at training on Tuesday night so it is good at the moment. There are a lot of players and competition around,” he added.
“Everyone is fit to play and we had a good training session on Tuesday night so we have just got make sure that we pick the right team for Saturday.
“The seconds are going well as well so that helps breed a lot of confidence through the cub.
“Cambridge are a good side but the one thing we can take though is we have not met yet this season.
“It is a case of we do not know what to expect form them but they do not know what to expect from us either.”
Rejuvenated Foresters confident of result at Cambridge
CINDERFORD coach Lee Fortey is confident of returning from high-flying Cambridge with some points in National One tomorrow.
The rejuvenated Foresters have won their last two matches and are looking far more confident.
And Fortey is hoping to take that new-found confidence to Renault Park and record their third consecutive victory to carry on their resurgence.
“I think we can get something out of this week at Cambridge with the way we are playing at the moment,” Fortey said.
“It is going to be a big ask but the boys have gone well recently and confidence is running high and we have nothing to lose.
“We are confident of getting something especially with the way we have been playing in the last three or four games.”
Back to back victories at Blackheath and at home to Sedgley Park have got the Dockham Road side’s campaign back on track.
They now sit in a much healthier position of 12th after losing four games on the bounce before their current mini revival.
The fixture list has not been kind to Fortey’s men as every time they seem to get a run of form going they come up against one of the big boys.
After recording three wins in a row earlier in the campaign, they then travelled to one of the favourites for the title, London Scottish, and narrowly went down 26-18.
The same thing has happened again with a daunting trip to third placed Cambridge – who have won every fixture at home this season including against Scottish.
But Fortey is determined his side keep their run of good form going not just this weekend but into the New Year when their first game back after Christmas is at home to leaders Esher.
“The boys know that when we come back in January we have a tough game straight away against Esher so we have to keep the performances going,” he added.
“We should have won at London Scottish and if we had got something from that game we would have carried on the momentum
“These big games are the ones you have to stand up and make everyone take notice of yourself.”
