Cinderford’s National League One survival hopes were dealt a blow as they were edged out by a single point at home to Richmond.
The visitors were quick to open their account when the ball bounced kindly to enable Duncan Peters to race clear to score a try, which Rob Kirby converted. Mark Davies replied with a penalty for Cinderford, but another quick counter-attack from Richmond enabled second-row Chris Davies to cross for an unconverted try.
A clever cross-field kick from Clive Stuart-Smith saw home winger chase up and gather up the ball to score. Cinderford continued to press forward and a break by Davies created the chance for Jack Adams to go over for a try which Davies converted.
Richmond were soon back in the lead at the start of the second-half, when Peters went over for his second try, again converted by Kirby. Back came Cinderford and replacement prop Will Davis forced his way over the line, with Davies landing the conversion and then kicking a penalty to make it 25-19 after an hours’ play.
The visitors were held up over the try-line before Alexander went over under the posts for the bonus point try, which Kirby again converted. Davies edged Cinderford back in front with a penalty in the closing stages, but there was to be no repeat of last week’s narrow victory, as Kirby put over last gasp penalty to secure a victory for the visitors.
Man of the match – Mike Wilcox
Cinderford RFC
Mike Wilcox, Nev Codlin, Jack Adams, Robbie Winchle, Sam Baker, Mark Davies, Clive Stuart-Smith (Danny Pointon 69), Chris Bundy (Will Davis 51), Koree Britton (Tom Bozzard 43), Elliot Booley, Tom Hicks, Ed King (Lance Randall 69), Adam Balding, Marcus Brown, George Evans
Unused replacement: Stef Hawley