Rosslyn Park were pushed all the way by Cinderford, and it took a late penalty to earn them a very hard-earned victory.
The home side had the better of the early exchanges but were unable to turn it into any points. Park finally got some momentum into their play and outside-half Tom Whelan, who scored all of his side’s points, crossed for a try after 16 minutes, which he also converted. Mark Davies replied with a penalty for Cinderford, before Mike Wilcox scored an excellent individual try, when he kicked ahead and chased all the way to score from his own 22m line. Park piled on the pressure as half-time approached but the home side defended their try-line superbly to ensure they held a slender 8-7 advantage at the interval.
The second-half saw Cinderford quickly extend their lead with two penalties from Davies, before Whelan replied for the visitors with three successful kicks to put his team 16-14 ahead, as the match went into the final quarter. Davies regained the lead for Cinderford with his fourth penalty with five minutes remaining, but Whelan responded in similar fashion for Park on the stroke of full-time
There was still time for Davies to have one last chance to win the game for Cinderford, but on his kick from the half-way line fell short.
MOTM – George Evans
Cinderford RFC
Mike Wilcox, Stef Hawley, Lloyd Evans (Sam Hanks 74), Sam Hanks (Al Bryan 67), Sam Baker, Mark Davies, Clive Stuart-Smith (Andy Uren 63), Joe Smart (Elliot Booley ht), Luke Cole (Dave Wheeler 56), Alex Gordas (Joe Smart 59), Lance Randall, Milo Reynolds, George Mills (Mike Uren 56), Chris McNeil, George Evans