Cinderford United emphasised the club’s strength in depth with an emphatic victory in a match played as a curtain raiser to the league match between the clubs at Volac Park later in the afternoon.
The early morning start seemed to have a negative impact on the Forest side as despite an early Danny Trigg penalty the visitors made a sluggish start. The home always had an edge in raw pace out wide but the United exerted huge pressure at scrum time to help nullify the threat. Hard earned field position by the United provided several try scoring opportunities but handling errors thwarted any chance to add to their total.
Shortly before half time Cambridge took the lead as their energetic backs provided an opening for the home side’s outside centre to scorch in for an unconverted try and a narrow half time lead.
The United made a positive start to the second half and pinned the home side deep in their own half. The home side attempted to run the ball from their own twenty two but United right wing Josh Hannam read the play and intercepted for a try under the posts. Trigg’s conversion was a formality.
The United looked set for a comfortable win but complacency whilst in possession in their own twenty two led to a turnover and the home side’s scrum half slipped through for a try that was converted to give the home side the lead for a second time.
The threat of defeat spurred the United into action and their response was immediate. A series of forward drives gave the backs space and neat passing allowed Trigg the opportunity to core an excellent try despite injuring himself in the process. Stefan Hawley converted as Trigg limped off.
The United were now really into their stride and ran away with things in the last ten minutes with three tries. Centre Danny Chappell scored a brace whilst left wing Nicky Gait added a fine finish to some neat passing by fly half Tom Law. Hawley added two conversions to give the score line a slightly flattering look but nevertheless the United were worthy winners.
Cinderford United; Stefan Hawley, Josh Hannam. Kai Done, Danny Chappell (Tom Law), Nicky Gait, Danny Trigg (Chappell), Jack O’Connell (Ollie Whiting), Leigh Green, Dan Oselton, Nick Selway, Rich Mountford, Stew Hendry, Pat Benson (Seb Merritt), Kyle Frowen, Ben Sparks.