Cinderford Back on Home Turf, Confident for a Home Win
Saturday 18 January 2014, KO 2.30pm (National 1)
With an away win over Hull and then securing a four try LBP against league leaders Doncaster Knights, Cinderford RFC welcome the return to home soil to take on Richmond Rugby this Saturday, and are confident to take the win and climb further up the table.
Speaking earlier in the week, director of rugby Andy Deacon, said: “Securing a four try bonus point at Doncaster was a massive silver lining for us but shipping 60 points is unacceptable and something I’m really not too happy about. Defence is a massive part of the game and falling off tackles and not implementing the defensive structure is just not good enough. The guys understand that and it’s their responsibility on the pitch but Doncaster were very good at capitalising on their line breaks.”
“They’re set-up with 28 professionals, have amazing facilities, a big, intelligent coaching staff and play in front of a crowd of 1,000. If they don’t go up it will be a massive disaster for them. That said, our attacking play was very encouraging, we opened them up and only one side has scored more points than us there. That’s a real incentive for us. It’s our first losing bonus point away from home and it could be vital in the long run. Two of our four tries were outstanding efforts.”
“Strangely, it was actually a lot closer than the score line suggests. They turned us over when we were pushing for a try of our own and went 80 metres to score and on another occasion Jack Adams put a brilliant kick through – if it bounced the one way we would have scored but it went the other and once again they raced away. These are real 14-point swingers. But to take a point from Doncaster following four gained on the road at Hull is a really good return.”
“This weekend we face Richmond which will be another tough test. They are just above us and have a game in hand so it’s a must win match for us especially being at home. We’re past that halfway point, with 12 games left and it’s vital that we take something from each and every one. But we’re in a good place with the senior players driving us forward and having a brilliant input on the analysis side of things. Everyone is working hard and that’s all you can ask.”
Team changes see Roger Birkin come in at 6 for Adam Balding who suffered a lower leg injury last weekend, as did Nev Codlin who is replaced by Sam Baker. Alex Pickersgill comes in at 11 as Sam moves to 14. Clive Stuart-Smith starts at scrum half replacing Reece Boughton. Ryan Charles replaces Finally Sinclair on the bench. Tom Heard is back with Gloucester Rugby and Elliot Booley starts at tight head. Loose head Will Davis returns from Bristol to the bench and Tom Hicks returns from Gloucester starting in the second row with Lance Randall moving to the bench on rotation. Alex Frame comes onto the bench for Tom Law and Stef Hawley completes the replacement line up.
Cinderford United travel in the opposite direction to Richmond Firsts to okay Richmond 2nds at 2.30pm.
Good luck to all #teamcindy.
Special offer: Calling all rugby fans. Pre-match pie ‘n mash and ticket to the game all for £12 (£5 for members).
Cinderford RFC v Richmond
Backs:
15. Mike Wilcox
14. Sam Baker
13. Jack Adams
12. Robbie Winchle
11. Alex Pickersgill
10. Mark Davies
9. Clive Stuart-Smith
Forwards:
1. Chris Bundy
2. Tom Bozzard
3. Elliot Booley
4. Tom Hicks
5. Ed King
6. Roger Birkin
7. Will Keenan
8. George Evans
Replacements:
16. Will Davis
17. Lance Randall
18. Alex Frame
19. Stef Hawley
20. Ryan Charles