CRFC U16 vs Cirencester U16_County Cup Semi Final

GRFU U16s County Cup – Semi Final

 

Cinderford RFC U16        20

Cirencester RFC U16      13

 

Cinderford booked their seventh County Cup Final in eight years with a 20-13 home semi final win over Cirencester at Dockham Road. These two very fine and evenly matched young sides have developed a genuine and great mutual respect for each other over the years, having played in numerous memorable encounters going back to when they were just eight years old, with there rarely being more than a single score to separate them on any occasion, whichever way the results have fallen, and this eagerly anticipated match was no different.

 

Cinderford got off to a sensational start.  Jake Bonser caught the Cirencester kick off to set up a ruck 5 meters in from the right touchline, from which Cinderford picked up to create a solid maul, with Kyle Frowen showing great strength and determination in the thick of it.  When the ball was presented back quickly to the Cinderford back line, what followed was a truly stunning passage of play; flat, fast, inch perfect passing, complimented by great handling at pace, saw the ball rapidly fired right the way across the entire Cinderford back line from right to left, through the hands of Charlie Gayther, Jack Hopkins, Liam Littleton and Luke Kell, before reaching Chance Ridler out wide on the left wing.  Collecting ball at pace, Ridler showed tremendous positional awareness, strength and pace in carving his way through the Cirencester drift defence before breaking through a narrow gap and outstripping everyone to score under the posts with only 45 seconds gone on the clock.  Breathtaking stuff and arguably Cinderford’s finest try of the season to date.  Jack Hopkins added the extras to give Cinderford a 7-0 lead and help steady the early nerves for the home side.

 

Cinderford kept up the early pressure, not letting Cirencester settle into the game in the opening stages and defending well, when called upon, to keep the dangerous Cirencester back row runners in check.  Ten minutes in, Ciren were awarded a penalty in front of the Cinderford posts when the home side were penalised for not releasing the ball when tackled, and Ollie Whiting stepped up to dissect the posts with a well struck penalty kick to make it 7-3.

 

Four minutes later, Cinderford edged further in front.  Having initially been penalised, for a not straight throw-in at a line-out deep inside the Cirencester 22, and gifting Cirencester a defensive scrum and the chance to clear their lines, Cinderford then made immediate amends by turning Cirencester over in the loose play that followed.  This in turn was followed by another passage of slick handling across the full width of the pitch by Cinderford back line that was finished off when Jack Hopkins sent a perfectly weighted chip kick over the top of the Ciren defence on the left for Chance Ridler to race through and pick up on the bounce to score his second try of the match, this one in the left corner.  Superb stuff by the home side.  The touchline conversion attempt fell short and the scores remained at 12-3.

 

Ten minutes later, Cirencester were penalised for not releasing the ball when tackled just inside half-way in a central position and, when vocal frustration by the visitors led to referee Ray Puttock’s decision being challenged, the visitors were marched back 10-meters, putting the penalty within the range of Jack Hopkins, who stepped up to slot an excellent kick through the posts to make it 15-3.

 

Cirencester fought back hard, testing the Cinderford defence thoroughly towards the end of the first half, and the Cotswold side looked to be heading for a certain score in the right hand corner, but some superb defensive work by Cinderford robbed Ciren of the ball and gave No.10 Hopkins the opportunity to send a great kick downfield and into touch near halfway.  Moments later, Matt Masters was unlucky to see his very well struck, long-range penalty kick from just inside half way sail inches past the upright after Ciren were penalised for offside.  Cirencester narrowed the gap slightly, to 15-6, when Cinderford conceded a needless penalty for offside at a Cirencester ruck under the posts and Ollie Whiting again stepped up to slot the kick with ease.

 

Cinderford got off to another great start at the beginning of the second half.  Jake Bonser, having an exceptionally effective game in the Cinderford lineout, pinched another Ciren throw-in inside the opposition 22, but some great work by the Ciren forwards turned the ball back over almost immediately.  However, when the following box-kick clearance fell to Kyle Frowen, the Cinderford No.8 embarked on a direct, powerhouse run back at Cirencester that drew in the opposition defence and helped to create space out wide for the backs to exploit with another rapid handling move, this time for Luke Kell at outside centre to power over in the right hand corner for an unconverted try, putting Cinderford firmly in the box seat at 20-6.

 

The next quarter of an hour saw Cirencester take the game increasingly strongly to Cinderford as the Cotswold side fought gamely to get back into contention.  Cirencester created two outstanding scoring chances during this period, only for the ball carrier on both occasions to get white line fever when within 5-meters of the Cinderford try line, and with overlaps begging on the outside, only to lose the ball forward in contact at the critical moment.  As Ciren continued to press forward, Cinderford’s Jake Bonser made another crucial lineout steal for the Forest side and Sam Morse, in strong support, did superbly at the breakdown to clean up the loose ball.  Moments later, more great defensive work by Cinderford near halfway, to counter a powerful charge by Cirencester, saw Cinderford captain Luke Crunden embark on an excellent run back through centre field to regain valuable ground for his team.

 

Overall, both sides put up tremendous defensive displays throughout, including one memorial, square on tackle by fullback Matt Masters late in the game, but it was Cinderford who had the clear advantage when going forward with the more fluent attacking options at their disposal across the backs.  Every time one side threw themselves forward in a positive attacking move, the other side came up with a superb piece of defence work at the critical moment to turn the ball over.  Perhaps, one of the more significant examples of this was an outstanding piece of defensive work by Cinderford hooker Sam Morse that prevented the Cirencester ball carrier from grounding the ball having crossed the try line eight minutes into the second period.   But, barely a minute later, from the resultant 5-meter scrum, Cirencester’s ever dependable Brendan Musgrave at No.7 smashed through the centre to score under the posts. Ollie Whiting stepped up to add the conversion and bring the visitors back to within a converted score of levelling, at 20-13, with less than two minutes left on the clock.

 

However, in not dealing cleanly with the Cinderford restart kick and allowing it to bounce into touch for a lineout deep inside their own half, Cirencester all but lost any hope of a dramatic late score that might have swung this game back their way.  Cinderford again disrupted the Cirencester lineout trough Jake Bonser and, moments later, the final whistle blew to send Cinderford through as deserved winners to this year’s County Cup Final, to be played on Sunday 25th April at the Prince of Wales Stadium, Cheltenham, where they will meet Hucclecote in a repeat of last year’s final.

 

C’mon Cinderford!!!!!!!!!

 

Cinderford jointly awarded their man of the match award to second row Jake Bonser, who had another outstanding game in the lineout and in the loose, and also to Chance Ridler, for his devastating finishing and power play that saw the Cinderford left winger score two crucial first half tries that set up the platform for this Cinderford victory.

 

 

Match Report & Photos: Simon Hawkins

 

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Cinderford RFC U16s vs Coney Hill RFC U1s_07 March 2010

  

Coney Hill RFC U16                   0

 

 

Cinderford RFC U16                 55

 

 

Despite missing a number of players through injury and illness, Cinderford U16s overran Coney Hill by 55-0 on Sunday, with tries from Adam Wilce, Tom Ward, Toby Farrier, Louis Overthrow(2), Ryan Walding, Jake Bonser(2) and Chance Ridler. Jack Hopkins kicked four from six, and Matt Masters one from three, conversion attempts.  The first half of this match was refereed by up and coming junior referee, Charlie Gayther, himself only 16, who then came on at scrum half for Cinderford for the second half.

 

Having only been together for around 6-months, this Coney Hill side deserve great credit for putting up a spirited defensive effort, especially in the opening stages as they worked hard to contain Cinderford. However, the Forest of Dean side proved simply too strong, especially in the forwards, for the Gloucester side to cope with.

 

 

The Forest side were on top from the kick off and should have scored within the first few minutes, but a combination of basic errors by Cinderford and some fine defending on their try line by Coney Hill meant the visitors were held out for the first ten minutes.  But, with wave after wave of attacking play in the opposition 22, the Cinderford tide could not be held back for long and the opening score came from second row Adam Wilce, running in a try in the right corner on his welcome return following a month long lay off through injury.  Jack Hopkins’ conversion attempt went narrowly wide; 5-0.

 

 

 

 

 

The long restart kick was collected by Cinderford and ran directly back at Coney with quick handling across the back line getting the ball out to Tom Ward, who raced up the left touchline, outpacing the cover defence to cross at the corner flag before returning to score under the posts; Jack Hopkins converted for 12-0.  Minutes later, loose-head prop Toby Farrier powered over from close range to register his fifth try of the season, and keep some of the backs worried that he might just catch them up in the race to be top try scorer at the end of season!  When the ball fell forward off the kicking tee, just prior to the conversation attempt, Matt Masters was forced to quickly improvise in the remainder of the allotted minute, but his drop kick attempt sailed wide and the score remain at 17-0.

 

As Cinderford continued to drive for the line, the Foresters were held up over the line twice in successive minutes by some excellent Coney Hill defending.  But, at the third attempt, when the ball came back to Luke Kell, the Cinderford centre straightened the running line, dropped his shoulder and charged for the posts and showed good strength and awareness in handing-off Coney’s initial tacklers before offloading to blindside flanker Louis Overthrow, who powered through to score under the posts. Jack Hopkins added the conversion to take the score to 24-0.

 

Just before half time, outside-half Jack Hopkins sent a long searching kick downfield for the backs to chase down, but the ball was collected by the Coney Hill fullback, who sent a long return kick back over Cinderford heads. A wicked bounce of the ball downfield wrong-footed Cinderford’s Matt Masters and Coney Hill were able to capitalise, collecting the ball on the floor and mounting their first and only serious attack on the Cinderford defence but were stopped just short of the try line by a superb, try saving tackle from openside flanker, Luke Crunden. 

 

Moments later, in their efforts to prevent a Coney Hill score, the rallying Cinderford defence gave away a penalty in front of goal.  Coney Hill could have opted for a kickable penalty to get onto the score sheet but, to their credit, chose to take a tap penalty instead.  However, a bone crunching dump tackle on his opposite number by Luke Kell at centre saw the ball turned over and, from the following ruck, Cinderford were able to clear their lines just before half time.

 

 

 

The second half saw several player changes for Cinderford, ensuring the full travelling squad got a run out.  Chance Ridler caught the Coney Hill second half restart kick on the Cinderford 22 and brushed off several tackle attempts as he proceeded to charge up the right wing, crossing half way and continuing on his charge deep into the opposition half and, for a moment, looked set to score a spectacular solo try before he was felled within 10 meters of the opposition try line in the corner.  Ridler managed to pop the ball up to the following support players and a certain score was on the cards with a four man overlap on the left wing, but a hurried decision to go for the higher risk kick to the corner saw the ball lost forward on attempted collection and the opportunity was squandered. 

 

Nevertheless, the scoring chances continued to mount and a steady stream of five tries in the next fifteen minutes nailed the lid shut on this game, which was blown up ten minutes early. Firstly, Louis Overthrow powered through from close range to score his second try of the game under the posts and seal a strong forwards drive up the middle, converted by Jack Hopkins for 31-0.  Twins Jason and Ryan Walding were both involved in the next try; Jason setting off on a run at the start of a phase of play that saw an excellent interchange between Tom Ward and Liam Littleton before Ryan Walding went through on the left and returned at the posts for a converted score; 38-0.

 

Two minutes later, a strong run up the centre by Chance Ridler set up a ruck, deep in the Coney Hill 22, from which second row Jake Bonser emerge with the ball at pace and, using Tom Ward as his foil on the outside, was able to sell two quick dummies before cutting back inside to score.  Five minutes later Bonser crossed the try line at a canter for his second try, this time after a destructive run and popped pass by tight-head prop, Jake “Tank” Drinkwater.  Hopkins’ conversion took the score to 48-0. 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the score line mounted and the gaps in the tiring opposition defence grew larger, one or two Cinderford players were guilty of starting to look for scoring glory rather than keeping the game simple and fluid.  However, when a glaring overlap on the outside was ignored and the option taken instead to charge infield and goal-bound, the move ran into heavy opposition traffic and the momentum almost lost.  Thankfully, some quick thinking support play recycled the ball back to Matt Masters, who drilled the ball to the corner for a lineout near the Coney Hill 5-meter line.  Jake Bonser stole the opposition throw-in at the font of the lineout out but the ball was lost forwards shortly afterwards.  However the Cinderford forwards then drove the tiring Coney Hill pack off its own scrum put-in and Chance Ridler at No.8 picked up at the back and broke through to score.  Masters then capped things off with a perfectly struck long range conversion kick from out wide to take the final score to 55-0.

 

 

 

 

 

Match Report & Photos: Simon Hawkins

 

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CRFC U16s vs Dings Crusaders RFC U16s_28 Feb 2010

 

GRFU U16s County Cup – Group 2

 

Cinderford RFC U16                 15

 

 

Dings Crusaders RFC U16          0

 

 

Cinderford U16s beat Dings Crusaders by 15-0 on Sunday, to secure top spot in Group 2 of this year’s County Cup competition, although the score line tells nothing of the significant advantage in territory and possession enjoyed by Cinderford in a match where Dings never really threatened to score.  Hampered by the muddy conditions at Cinderford Bridge, this hard fought and often bruising encounter wasn’t the prettiest of games to watch but was certainly a full blooded physical contest up front and not one for the faint hearted.

 

 

Dings started well and their sizeable forwards looked to impose a physical presence on the game, competing particularly well at the rucks and mauls and winning turn over ball at the breakdown on several occasions in the opening exchanges.  However, having settled into the game, Cinderford’s pack stepped up to the challenge and began to assert themselves at the set pieces and mauls, unsettling the opposition and increasingly taking charge of the game for the home side.

 

 

 

The Cinderford front row of Toby Farrier, Niall Spencer and Jake Drinkwater competed well at the scrums, with Farrier at loose head prop overpowering his opposite number and forcing Dings to swop their props over, whilst hooker and man of the match, Niall “Beannie” Spencer put in a particularly abrasive and destructive man of the match performance, especially in the loose, for Cinderford.  In the line outs, the second row pairing of Jake Bonser and Josh Lee also performed well, and Louis Overthrow yet again delivering consistently high work rate at No.6.

 

Several players across the back line played in unfamiliar positions for Cinderford, including Sam Baker (normally at No.7) playing scrum half, Tom Ward coming in off the left wing to play at inside-centre, Liam Littleton moving to outside-half from inside-centre, and Sam Hatton dropping back from centre to fullback.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The opening score was a long time coming.  Cinderford managed to cross the Dings try line in the fifteenth minute, but an excellent last gasp tackle by a Dings defender dislodged the ball from the grasp of Cinderford’s Niall Spencer a split second before he could ground it.  In their eagerness to turn possession and territory into points before half time, Cinderford were guilty on a couple of occasions of rushing their decisions at key moments within 10meters of the Dings try line, when clearer thought might have yielded more points. 

 

Cinderford and Dings traded a penalty miss apiece during the next ten minutes and the half looked to be closing out scoreless.  But, in the last move of the half, Kyle Frowen broke up the blindside from the back of an attacking 5m meter scrum, drawing in the Dings defence before offloading to Tom Ward, who crashed through to score.  Sam Hatton’s conversion attempt rebounded off the upright and the half ended with Cinderford narrowly in front at 5-0. 

 

Cinderford hit the ground running at the start of the second half, and soon had Dings under serious pressure.  Josh Lee jumped to collect lineout ball on the opposition 22 that set up an excellent 20-meter drive by Cinderford that was brought down just short of the Dings line.  The ball was cycled infield but, unfortunately, spilled in contact and cleared.  Then, minutes later, a score looked to be on the cards when Tom Ward caught a Dings defensive clearance 30-meters out and immediately cut infield and was motoring through the opposition defence at pace, with a two man overlap on his outside, when the referee surprised everyone in calling play back late for a Dings offside at the earlier clearance kick, when advantage was clearly with Cinderford at the time on the counter attack.  To rub salt in, Cinderford’s penalty kick from out wide sailed passed the upright.

 

But, with Cinderford now starting to open up their passing game and getting the backs more engaged in fluid handling at pace, a score was inevitable and when then next try came it was worth waiting for.  Cinderford’s entire back line was engaged in a cross field move that started near half-way on the left touchline and progressed at pace through several hands, including an excellent double interchange between fullback Matt Masters and Liam Littleton, before Littleton flew up the right touchline and over in the corner to score.  Jack Hopkins kicked an excellent conversion from the touchline to extend Cinderford’s lead to 12-0.

 

Cinderford continued to press forward and Matt Masters added three more points for the home side with an outstanding penalty kick from the half way line to make it 15-0. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seeing the game slipping away from them, and struggling to get out of their own half, Dings became increasingly frustrated and the contest boiled over in places, which broke up the game a little but did nothing to detract from Cinderford’s thoroughly deserved win that means the Forest side finish top of Group 2, earning a home quarter final draw against Dursley, to be played on Sunday 14th March.

 

 

 

 

Match Report & Photos: Simon Hawkins

Cinderford RFC U16s vs Stow U16s_County Cup_24Jan2010

 

GRFU U16s County Cup – Group 2

 

Stow on the Wold RFC U16       0

 

Cinderford RFC U16                 43

 

 

 Cinderford U16s got off to a flying start in this year’s U16 County Cup with a 43-0 away win at Stow on the Wold.  Having shaken off the inevitable rustiness following a 6-week lay-off due to the Christmas break and recent weather interruptions, Cinderford were soon on top of this game.  From an attacking ruck in the sixth minute, Cinderford’s man of the match, scrum-half Sam Watkins, put a box kick over the top for Chance Ridler to chase into the corner and the bounce on the try line favoured the Cinderford winger who collected to score in the corner; 5-0.

 

 

Minutes later, Tom Ward on the Cinderford left wing ran a long Stow clearance kick back at the home side from his own 22, jinking through several tackle attempts up the left touchline before eventually reaching the Stow 5metre line.  Cinderford quickly recycled worked the ball infield, where scrum-half Watkins put a delicate chip kick over the top and chased through to scoop the ball up off the floor and dart to within inches of the Stow try line under the posts.  The home side got back quickly in numbers but were caught offside at the ruck and outside half Jack Hopkins stepped up to convert the penalty kick to make it 8-0 to Cinderford.

 

The Foresters second try also came after a good run up the left wing by Tom Ward to the opposition 5-meter line, where scrum half Sam Watkins again showed his fleetness of mind and foot as he broke quickly from the base of the scrum, drawing in the Stow defence before firing a sharp, flat pass infield for fullback Matt Masters to go over for the try; Jack Hopkins’ conversion made it 15-0.  Minutes later, Luke Crundon powered over from close range for a try near the posts and Hopkins again added the extras, on the stroke of half time; 22-0.

  

 

 

Cinderford kept up the pressure in the second half and sent on a steady stream of replacements as the half progressed.  Stow showed periods of strong determination and defensive resilience, particularly in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half, but Cinderford’s powerful backline of Louis Overthrow, Luke Crundon and Kyle Frowen overpowered Stow in the loose play and, inevitably, the gaps started to open up again for the backs to exploit.  Chance Ridler scored his second try, with a typically strong run, scything through the Stow defence in the centre of the park before breaking away and rounding the fullback to score at the posts for a converted try, 29-0.

 

  

Three minutes later, No.8 Kyle Frowen went on a powerhouse charge to set up a Cinderford drive into the Stow half.  From the following Cinderford scrum, Sam Watkins sent an angled chip kick towards touch on the Stow 22, where “Tom~aldinho” Ward showed almost Brazilian footballing skills in using the outside of his boot to meet the bouncing ball perfectly on the half volley, drilling it low and hard infield towards the Stow posts before outpacing the cover defence and collecting on the 5m line to go over for a try, converted by Matt Masters to make it 36-0.

 

 Cinderford wrapped things up just before full time when they turn over a Stow scrum against the head near the right touchline on half way and Sam Watkins made a darting run at the defence, bustling his way through several tackles before offloading to Chance Ridler on his outside, for Ridler to race away and score his hat trick, converted by Jack Hopkins to take the final score to 43-0 shortly before full time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match Report & Photos: Simon Hawkins

 

 

CRFC U16s vs Drybrook U16s_13Dec2009

 

Drybrook RFC U16                  5

 

Cinderford RFC U16              28

 

 

Cinderford put in an excellent all round team display on Sunday as they overcame Drybrook by 28-4, playing at Dene Magna School.  With 12 of their normal starting line-up missing, mostly attending a County Academy session at Hartpury College, Cinderford were down to a bare squad of 15, with no replacement options and several individuals playing out of position.

 

Nevertheless, both sides served up an enjoyable and competitive match.  Drybrook got of to a fine attacking start, taking the game to Cinderford strongly and testing their visitors defence in the opening minutes.  Luke Kell at inside centre did superbly to win turnover ball on his own 5-metre line early in the game and then set up a counter attack that took Cinderford back into the Drybrook half.  Minutes later, Cinderford openside flanker, Sam Baker collected the loose ball thrown long at a Drybrook lineout on the Cinderford 22 and made a great break up the left, offloading superbly to back row teammate Matt Hawkins who made good yards before being brought down and presenting the ball back at the ruck.  Cinderford recycled well and when fullback Adam Wilce opted to test the opposition defence with an aerial kick into the Drybrook 22, the unkind bounce evaded Wilce on the chase through and was also unfortunate to evade the outstretched fingertips of Matt Hawkins in his attempt to grasp the loose ball as it reached the try line.  

 

A minute later, on the quarter hour mark, Ryan Walding showed good pace and strength for Cinderford to finish a good team move and cross for a try at full stretch in the right hand corner to get the scoreboard moving. Jack Hopkins converted from the touchline to make it 7-0.  Ten minutes later, Ryan Walding’s twin brother Jason was heading at full pelt for the opposite corner, and it took a superb tackle by Drybrook number 4, Jake Howells to bundle Walding into touch inside the Drybrook 5-meter line to deny a certain score.

 

 

 

The first half finished 7-0, and still anybody’s game.  Just like in the first period, Drybrook started the second half strongly. However, Cinderford were looking much more settled and steadily upped their gears, with the forwards in particular putting Drybrook under considerable pressure in the contact areas, particularly the mails, and also at the scrums.

 

Cinderford’s reshaped pack had an excellent game.  For the front row, props Toby Farrier and Jake Drinkwater scrumagged well and showed great strength and determination in the loose and Jason Walding played well at hooker, throwing in well at the line-out, as well as hooking a couple of Drybrook scrum put-ins against the head and also carry well in open play.  Tom Ward, normally found on the left wing, and Josh Beard, both performed well in the second row. Finally, the back row trio of Matt Hawkins, Sam Baker and Adam Wilce at 6, 7 and 8 respectively were simply outstanding as a unit.

 

 

This back row trio were at the heart of the next Cinderford score; Adam Wilce at number eight making a cracking blindside break from the back of a Cinderford scrum from near halfway, getting behind the Drybrook defence before being brought down and popping the ball up perfectly off the floor into the path of Matt Hawkins in support.  Hawkins then kept up the pace and momentum of the move to gain valuable yards before being ushered into touch on the right.  When Drybrook overthrew at the following lineout, Sam Baker collected for Cinderford at the back and went on a break for the try line, only to be brought down 5 meters short, where Matt Hawkins was again on hand in quick support and the Cinderford No6 then dropped his shoulder and smashed through the remaining covering tackles to go over in the corner for a try. Jack Hopkins, in great form with the boot, converted from the touchline to make it 14-0. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drybrook responded quickly and superbly, putting in huge team effort over a sustained period of pressure as they pushed to get back into the game, pegging Cinderford back deep inside their own half.  It took two outstanding pieces of defending by Cinderford scrum half, Charlie Gayther to prevent Drybrook from grounding the ball in goal, having crossed the try line in the right hand corner twice in the space of five minutes.  After the second ‘held up’ instance, Gayther then disrupted the Drybrook 5m scrum, pinching the ball from his opposite number and getting it back for outside half Jack Hopkins to relieve the pressure with a superb long clearance kick to half way.

 

 

 

 

Shortly after the following lineout, Cinderford’s forwards secured turnover ball and the ball was worked quickly across field to the right and then back left again, with Jake Drinkwater and Tom Ward linking up well in the close quarters contest near the Drybrook 5m line, where Drinkwater offloaded infield to fellow prop Toby Farrier, who used his powerful frame to good effect as he crashed through to score. Jack Hopkins’ conversion took the score to 21-0 to Cinderford.

 

Ten minutes later the result was put beyond any doubt when Sam Baker cheekily kicked a grubber through for hooker Jason Walding to chase down and score near the right hand corner flag. Right footed kicker, Hopkins again slotted the conversion from the touchline on his wrong side to make it 28-0 to Cinderford with just over five minutes remaining. Still Drybrook fought for the score their efforts deserved and, with two minutes remaining, from a tap penalty on the right, Drybrook second row Jake Howells smashed his way through for a try, which went unconverted and the match closed out moments later at 28-5 to Cinderford.

 

 

Cinderford’s man of the match was Sam Baker, with special mention going to Jack Hopkins; Drybrook’s man of the match award going to Jake Howells with special mention for Joe Tingle. 

 

 

Cinderford line-up, 1-15:

 

Forwards (1-8): Jake Drinkwater, Jason Walding, Toby Farrier, Tom Ward, Josh Beard, Matt Hawkins, Sam Baker, Adam Wilce

 

Backs (9-15): Charlie Gayther, Jack Hopkins, Jack Richards, Luke Kell, Sam Hatton, Ryan Walding, Gavin Addis

 

 

Match Report & Photos: Simon Hawkins

Cinderford RFC U16s vs Chosen Hill OB RFC U16s_06 Dec 2009

 

 

Cinderford RFC U16              24

 

 

Chosen Hill OB RFC U16        3

 

 

Cinderford RFC U16s avenged their narrow away defeat to Chosen Hill RFC U16s back in early October with a comfortable 24-3 win in this return fixture on Sunday.  Eight weeks ago, Cinderford were minus 11 of their first choice pick players; this time, they were back to near full squad strength and the overall balance of the game was completely different.  Unfortunately for both sides, the conditions under foot on the old Listers playing fields were miserable; a heavy downpour earlier in the morning compounding what was already a sodden and very heavy playing surface and the ball proved very slippery to hold onto throughout, the game suffering an inevitably high count of handling errors as a result.

 

 

 

Cinderford put Chosen Hill under significant pressure right from the kick off and pegged the visitors back deep inside their own half for much of the first half.  A sustained period of early forward pressure saw Cinderford drive to within five meters of the visitor’s posts, drawing in the opposition defence, and quick service from the back a ruck by scrum half Sam Watkins saw the ball quickly moved across the Cinderford back line for Liam Littleton to take the final pass and dive over in the right hand corner to score.  Jack Hopkins’ well struck touchline conversion attempt went across the face of goal, narrowly missing the left upright and the score remained 5-0 to Cinderford after eight minutes.  Shortly after the restart, Cinderford were penalised for an offside infringement 25-yards out and the Chosen Hill number 20 stepped up to slot a fine penalty kick into the stiff cross field breeze and narrow the gap at 5-3. 

 

The remaining 30 minutes of the first half were almost all Cinderford, the visitors finding it particularly difficult to cope with the pace and strength of the home side’s outstanding back row combination of Louis Overthrow, Luke Crundon and Kyle Frowen.  Cinderford should have doubled their try count on the quarter hour mark, but the wet muddy ball slipped through cold fingers with the unguarded try line begging just three meters away.  However, within a minute, Cinderford were back on the charge; Chance Ridler showed good strength and pace to get behind the Chosen defence on the right wing before linking up with his forwards on his inside, who then drove infield to the Chosen Hill 5-meter line at the posts.  Having seen a significant overlap opportunity out wide, the play was called right and scrum-half Watkins again provided quick ball from the ruck that moments later saw prop Jake Drinkwater collect and stroll over unopposed for a try, which Jack Hopkins duly converted to make it 12-3 to Cinderford.

 

 

 

Sam Watkins was having a particularly fine game at scrum half for Cinderford, lively and creative in attack and persistently disrupting his opposite number with his speed and tenacity in defence, until a dead leg resulted in his premature replacement in only the twentieth minute.  Jake Bonser was another who performed well for the home side, most notably at the lineout where he stole several Chosen Hill throw-ins.

 

 

On the stroke of half time, more relentless forward pressure took Cinderford to a ruck under the Chosen Hill posts and when the ball came back out to from the ruck the Cinderford No.8 showed great strength and technique to first barge through the initial tackle attempts before twisting and turn his way out of the follow up efforts and crashing over the line under the posts.  Jack Hopkins converted to take the half time score line to 19-3.

 

 

 

The second half took much the same shape as the first, with Cinderford having the lion’s share of territory and possession and the muddy, wet, energy sapping conditions again resulting in a high number of unforced handling errors by both sides to severely hamper the flow of the game and the scoring.  Chosen went close to a try on one occasion, late in the second half, but some excellent cover defence in the right corner by Cinderford saw the ball turned over on their five meter line and Matt Master sending a long clearance kick up field from the in-goal area. 

 

 

Where Chosen Hill looked at their best was with ball in hand at the mauls; their tight five forwards displaying very good team work and organisation, as well as excellent technique with their low body positions and powerful driving.  As a result, Chosen made several excellent yardage gains through their maul, one particular example taking them from inside their own 5-meter line to near half way to regain valuable field position from a defensive situation late in the second half.  However, Chosen struggled to find any way through the tight and robust Cinderford defence in open play and never looked like mounting a serious challenge to the Cinderford lead.  The visitors spent much of the match pegged back deep inside their own half, forcing them to kick from hand to relieve the pressure but, when the Chosen Hill kicks failed to make touch, this presented a confident looking Cinderford side an extra slice of possession to run back at them with.

 

 

Legs were clearly tiring as the clock ran down and, just when it looked like the second half would remain scoreless, Cinderford put up one last big driving effort from which man of the match Louis Overthrow emerged to score a deserved try as just reward for he outstanding personal contribution in this match. The conversion attempt went narrowly wide and the final whistle blew to signal the end of the match and a satisfying 24-3 victory to the home side in these difficult conditions.

 

 

 

 

Match Report & Photos: Simon Hawkins

Cinderford RFC U16s vs St. Mary’s OB RFC_27th Sept 2009

Cinderford RFC U16           20

 

St. Mary’s OB RFC U16      15

 

 Cinderford RFC U16s powered their way to a commanding 20-3 lead inside the first 30minutes over visitors St. Mary’s Old Boys of North Bristol on Sunday.  Cinderford put St. Mary’s on the back foot from the start, dominating the forwards exchanges and set pieces, which took their visitors somewhat by surprise. The opening try came in the seventh minute after a period of sustained pressure.  Having just missed a penalty kick at goal moments earlier, Cinderford then crossed the St Mary’s try line but were held up in goal, forcing a 5m scrum from which No 8 Kyle Frowen burst through to score.  Matt Masters’ conversion attempt struck the outside of the upright to leave the score at 5-0.

 

St. Mary’s rallied and pulled back three points from a penalty after Cinderford were penalised for not releasing.  At this point, Cinderford then turned up the heat.  Outside half, Matt Master popped a timed pass into the path of Kyle Frowen in the centre of the park, just inside the Cinderford half, Frowen spotted a gap in the St Mary’s defence and burst through at an angle before straightening his line and offloading to Liam Littleton on his outside.  Littleton showed a good turn of pace in a 30 yard dash up the right, drawing in the defence before popping the ball to winger, Tom Ward in support.  Ward was brought down 7meters out but Cinderford forwards were in quick support and recycled the ball at the ruck from where prop, Toby Farrier picked up and crashed his way through the defence to score and make it 10-3.  For the second time in the match, Matt Masters’ conversion attempt rebounded back off an upright.

 

 

Cinderford showed good pace and handling in scoring their third try from a move started and finished by Chance Ridler.  Having picked up the loose ball knocked forward by St. Mary’s near the Cinderford 22, Ridler exchanged passes with players on his outside on the left wing before spring up the touchline and turning on the after burners to edge past the last man in defence for St Mary’s and score in the left corner.  The conversion attempt went across face of goal and the score remained 15-3 to the Forest side.

 

 

 

 

In midweek, this Cinderford U16s side saw 13 of its 30 strong squad go through to the final selection stages of Gloucestershire County U16s, of which 11 players have made the final cut and been selected by the County, the largest representation of any single club in the county and a great credit to this outstanding team.

 

 

The Cinderford pack had an immense game and the home side’s fourth try came after St. Mary’s found no answer to the sustained physical onslaught of the Cinderford forwards.  The front row combination of Jake Drinkwater, Niall “Beanie” Spencer and Toby Farrier, plus second row of Jake Bonser and Josh Lee, and a back row comprising of Lewis Overthrow, Kyle Frowen and Luke Crundon boasts 6 County squad members, who dominated at the set piece, particularly the scrum.  Having drawn in the opposition defence in numbers to defend at a ruck under the St. Mary’s posts, Cinderford moved the ball right and into the path of Luke Kell at centre who barged over for a try near the corner.  Incredibly, Matt Masters struck a conversion attempt against the face of an upright for the third time in this match, and the score remained at 20-3.   

 

 

St. Mary’s threw everything into attack from the restart in a desperate attempt to get back into this game and showed some excellent handling of their own struck with two quick tries, one converted, at a time when Cinderford were rotating squad members to pull back to 20-15.  Despite conceding these quick points, Cinderford never really looked to be any real danger and put St. Mary’s on the back foot again quickly afterwards.  Some powerhouse running through the centre, first by Kyle Frowen and then Lewis Overthrow who was brought down short of the line, forced the St. Mary’s defence to rally quickly and clear the ball.  Unfortunately, moments after the ensuing ruck, the St. Mary’s outside half, who had put in three big defensive hits in quick succession shortly beforehand, collapsed on the pitch and required paramedic attention before being ambulanced to hospital with suspected concussion.  As a result, and with the player receiving treatment on the pitch, this exciting match that had been brimming to a climax, was rightly abandoned with 20minutes still to play, Cinderford claiming a thoroughly deserved win.

 

 

 

All at Cinderford extend their best wishes for a speedy recovery to the St. Mary’s outside half and look forward with great anticipation to the next encounter between these two fine rugby sides.

 

Match Report & Photos: Simon Hawkins

 

…

Cinderford RFC U16s vs Drybrook RFC U16s_15 Nov ‘09

Cinderford RFC U16           19

Drybrook RFC U16               0

Despite missing nine regular players, all on Gloucestershire County ‘A’ playing duties, Cinderford U16s demonstrated their strength in squad depth with a convincing 19-0 win over local rivals Drybrook at Dockham Road .  Drybrook arrived clearly sensing the possibility of an upset but every Cinderford player stepped up to the challenge, not just to record a win in this typically well contested derby, but to also shut a very determined Drybrook out on the scoreboard too.

Cinderford started strongly, going close to an opening score on two occasions in the opening few minutes.  Kyle Frowen, playing against his old team for the first time, had an outstanding game at number eight, both in defence and in attack and got to within inches of the Drybrook try line only to be held out by the sheer weight of numbers against him. Minutes later, Adam Wilce crossed the try line in the opposite corner but the try was disallowed for an earlier infringement.

Despite having the lion’s share of attacking possession and territorial advantage throughout, Cinderford were their own worst enemies on occasions in the intensity of this local derby battle.  A steady stream of needless penalty infringements by the home side gifted Drybrook the ball and the opportunity to counter.

The long overdue first try came in the thirty fourth minute, after prop Toby Farrier went on the charge from a tap penalty near the Drybrook 22, drawing in opposition defence.  When the ball came back out of the ruck, scrum half Charlie Gayther sent a box kick towards the corner flag that was collected on the bounce by winger Tom Ward who returned unopposed under the posts. Jack Hopkins converted to make to 7-0.  Drybrook went on the attack from the restart and were awarded a penalty for their efforts in a central field position but the kick went narrowly wide of the upright and the first half ended shortly afterwards.

Cinderford’s second try came from a big drive up the right that was angled back infield and led to a ruck on the Drybrook 5m line, where Toby Farrier picked up and smashed his way through for a try, converted by Jack Hopkins for 14-0.

Eight minutes before full time Cinderford got their third, and by far the best try of the game.  From a central scrum just inside their own half, Charlie Gayther popped the ball out to replacement outside half Elliott Davies (CRFC U15s) who quickly put the ball into the path of Liam Littleton at centre. Littleton handed off the initial Drybrook defence before offloading to Jack Richards on his outside.  Richards’ sublime one handed return pass around the back wrong footed the opposition defence and sent Littleton on his way again, setting up a maul from which Tom Ward peeled off to continue the move strongly up the blindside. The Drybrook cover defence threw everything into driving Ward over the touchline but Cinderford’s support play was superb, showing great strength and organisation to keep both man and ball in play before prop Jake Drinkwater attacked the open side before offloading to Matt Hawkins, who continued the charge for the line and unselfishly popped the final pass up for prop Toby Farrier to smash through the tiring Drybrook defence from a meter out to record his second try of the game.  The conversion attempt dropped short and the score line stayed at 19-0 to Cinderford, with full time coming minutes later.

Several Cinderford players put in noteworthy performances: Charlie Gayther had his best game for Cinderford at scrum half and Sam Baker was outstanding at open side flanker, all making the man of the match decision a very hard one to call.  In the end, the Cinderford man of the match award went jointly to Kyle Frowen at number eight, who had a fantastic game against his old team, and also to Matt Hawkins at number six, for his exceptional work rate in the contact areas, particularly at the rucks.