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Rosslyn Park just edged out Cinderford in an extremely tight affair of few clear scoring opportunities. Based on the possession and the territorial advantage they enjoyed the visitors just about deserved their victory, but they were certainly relieved to hear the final whistle.
Cinderford tackled with great tenacity throughout and after surviving an early onslaught from Park they took the lead when outside-half Mark Davies kicked a long range penalty after 23 minutes. Park simply could not breakdown the home defence but just as the half-time whistle approached they were awarded a penalty, which Sam Katz successfully kicked to make it 3-3 at the interval.
Mid-way through the second-half Davies and Katz exchanged penalties and the match was set up for a very tense final quarter.
Cinderford had a couple of promising attacks thwarted before the visitors once again pressed deep into their opponents 22 and eventually replacement flanker Lee Starling just scrambled over the line to claim an unconverted try. The home tried desperately to respond in the closing stages but could not find a way through and had to settle in the end for a losing bonus point.
Cinderford RFC
Mike Wilcox, Nev Codlin, Jack Adams, Sam Hanks, Lloyd Stapleton (Stef Hawley 20), Mark Davies, Danny Pointon (Reece Boughton 50), Chris Bundy, Tom Bozzard (Finlay Sinclair 73), Tom Heard (Joe Smart 57), Ed King, Lance Randall (Tom Hicks 52), Will Keenan, George Mills, George Evans (capt),
All replacements used.
Man of the match – George Mills