Cinderford let the chance of victory slip from their grasp in the closing stages of their first visit to Barnes and in the end had to be content with a draw.

The visitors made a positive start to the match and James Moffat was on target with an early penalty.  Barnes responded with an unconverted try from prop Tariq Al Khaldi, who was driven over from a lineout catch and drive.  Moffat restored the lead for Cinderford when he scored a fine individual try, which he also converted.

Aaron Ryan was next to score for the visitors from another lineout drive, with Moffat again converting, but the home side soon replied with a try from winger Fraser Carlisle. Just before half-time Cinderford recycled the ball through numerous phases before hooker Henry Walker went over for an unconverted try to make it 22-10 at the interval.

The second half was a fairly even affair but Barnes were eventually able to take advantage of an increasing lack of discipline from their opponents and two yellow cards saw them reduced to 13 men for the final ten minutes. Home replacement Robbie Martey crossed for a try, which Tom O’Toole converted as their opponents simply ran out of numbers wide out.

With five minutes remaining the visitors opted to kick a long range penalty chance into the corner, but a knock-on enabled Barnes to clear their lines. Then with time almost up the home side broke through in mid-field and Harry Hudson levelled up the scores when he touched down for his side’s fourth try, but O’Toole was unable to convert to snatch a win for his team.

Cinderford; James Moffat, Reuben Norville, Alan Bryan, Rob Winchle, Harry Robinson, Liam Hemming, Jimmy Williams, George Porter (Capt.), Henry Walker, Ciaran Knight, Dale Lemon, Ed King, Aaron Ryan, Chris McNeil, Matt Lane.

Replacements; Joe Smart, Will Haly, James Tideswell, Adam Balding, Dan Pointon.