Cinderford at Home and Hungry for the Win
v Old Albanian – National 1 (Sat 26 Oct KO 2.30pm)
Sitting just a couple of places apart in the league table, this Saturday Cinderford RFC returns home with a hunger to take the win against visitors, Old Albanian RFC.
Commenting earlier this week on last Saturday’s poor day at the office, Andy Deacon, director of rugby said: “It was startling the amount of scoring chances we spurned at Blaydon. We lost 24-14, and that’s despite having 10 attacking lineouts in their 22. In fact we managed five lineouts on their five-metre line in the first 15 minutes alone. Despite all those potential scoring situations, we only managed to convert one of those 10. Blaydon only made it into our 22 six times in the entire game – and scored four tries. Their conversion rate was the exact opposite of ours, and that stark contrast definitely hit us hard.”
“We now have just one win and one draw from seven league games: but we’re not panicking, far from it. I do admit that the pressure starts to build though. There are 23 National One games left in the season, but sooner not later we have got to start winning. We need to build composure when the chances come, and get past that anxiety that comes when you start to fret about not converting opportunities. We’ve got to face up to the fact we’ve got to be more disciplined, to do the hardest elements more rigidly at the right times, to force those chances home. No one is backing away from the problems: we all must accept some flak, then turn that into positive motivation to set things right.”
Team news sees Stef Hawley return to full back after playing at 15 last week and Sam Hanks moves to outside centre with Al Bryan making his first XV start of the season at inside centre. Clive Stuart-Smith starts at scrum half with Danny Pointon on the bench on a player rotation basis. Ryan Charles also starts for the first time this season as hooker, with Tom Bozzard on the bench, and Finlay Sinclair starting for United. Coming back after injury Lance Randall returns in the second row replacing Ed King who plays for United. Alex Frame moves to the bench after starting at full back last week.
Cinderford United travels away to play Old Albanians II at 3pm, and look to repeat their stellar performance from last week’s game v Championship club, Ealing 2. The Stags look continue their good run away to Matson RFC 2 at 2.30pm. Good luck to all teams.
Cinderford RFC v Old Albanians
Backs
15. Stef Hawley
14. Nev Codlin
13. Sam Hanks
12. Al Bryan
11. Chris Hawkins
10. Mike Wilcox
9. Clive Stuart-Smith
Forwards
1. Will Davis
2. Ryan Charles
3. Elliot Booley
4. Lance Randall
5. Tom Hicks
6. Joe Garner
7. George Mills
8. George Evans (Capt)
Replacements:
16. Chris Bundy
17. Tom Bozzard
18. Marcus Brown
19. Alex Frame
20. Danny Pointon