This match went the way of the form book as Blackheath comfortably saw off the challenge of a struggling Cinderford team at a rain sodden Beavis Memorial Ground.
Freddie Gabitass was on target with a couple of early penalties for the visitors, before Cinderford scored an unconverted try when the ball went loose over the line and winger Nev Codlin managed to get the ball down. Visiting captain Markus Burcham then scored the first of his ‘hat-trick’ of tries, as he intercepted a pass and scored the simplest of tries, which Gabitass converted, to make the half-time score 13-5 to Blackheath.
Early second-half pressure from the visitors saw Burcham score in the far corner, and he completed his ‘hat-trick’ soon afterwards, running the perfect angle to score near the posts, with Gabitass converting. Blackheath’s bonus point try was their best of the match, as forwards and backs combined to enable replacement Tom Ellis to score, with Gabitass again on target with the conversion.
There was a fifth try for the Londoners in the closing minutes, when Tom Chapman touched down, after a mix-up in the home defence gifted him the easiest of scoring opportunities.
Cinderford: Mike Wilcox (Capt.), Nev Codlin, Sam Hanks, Rob Winchle, Gary Dipple, James Moffat, Dan Pointon, Chris Bundy, Davy McGregor, Elliot Booley, Ed King, Milo Reynolds, George Mills, Sam Morse, Marcus Brown. Reps: Will Goodrick-Clarke, Tom Bozzard, Dan Broady, Lloyd Stapleton, Alex Frame.