Cinderford picked up a valuable and well deserved win away at Henley to give themselves a real boost in their efforts to move clear of the National One relegation zone.
Playing with the elements in their favour in the first-half the visitors were well on top in early exchanges, and they opened the scoring after 18 minutes when hooker Tom Bozzard touched down at the back of a lineout catch and drive. Mark Davies was on target with the difficult conversion. Despite continuing to dominate territorially Cinderford were unable to increase their advantage and the score remained unchanged at the interval.
Henley began the second-half with much more purpose but turnover ball saw Cinderford race up field and eventually second-row Lance Randall crossed the line for a try which was unconverted. The weather then took a turn for the worse, as a freak hailstorm saw the referee stop the match for several minutes. On the resumption of play Henley No8 Rob Stapley was driven over for what proved to be his side’s only score.
The closing stages were a tense affair but despite having plenty of possession Henley rarely threatened to breakdown a well organised Cinderford defence, and the visitors held firm to claim an important victory.
Cinderford: Mike Wilcox, Nevaro Codlin, Jack Adams, Rob Winchle, Alex Pickersgill, (Sam Baker 43), Mark Davies, Clive Stuart-Smith, Chris Bundy, (Will Davis 60), Tom Bozzard, (Ryan Charles 63), Elliot Booley, Lance Randall, Ed King, Roger Birkin, Will Keenan, (George Mills 60), George Evans (Capt.)
Replacement not used: Alex Frame.