This match went the way of the form book with Old Elthamians gaining a bonus point victory over a Cinderford side who suffered their third defeat in a row.
The visitors had the advantage of a gusty wind behind them in the first-half and they were soon taking the ball through the phases before being awarded a penalty 45m out which outside-half Tom White successfully kicked to open the scoring after seven minutes. The home side responded well with No8 Harry Hone carrying the ball deep into the opposition 22 before it was moved out wide where Jake Morris kicked through the defensive line to set up winger Sam Smith to score an unconverted try.
OE’s regained the lead after 22 minutes of play when they moved the ball quickly to blindside and winger Alex Brown was just able to squeeze in for a try at the corner. Play was evenly contested for much of the remainder of the half but as the interval approached the visitors breached the home defence when Kieran Moffat scored a try, which White converted.
Elthamians knew they needed up their game playing into the elements in the second-half and they did just that, scoring an early try through full-back Charlie Dockery to put them in control. More patient approach play from the visitors eventually created the chance for scrum-half Ollie Claxton to snipe over for the bonus point try from a 5m scrum, which White converted.
A fifth try followed soon afterwards when some excellent handling and close support play released Brown to go over for his second try in the 66th minute. It was Cinderford who had the better of play in the closing stages and the referee finally ran out of patience with OE’s repeated infringements and awarded the home side a penalty try, which completed the scoring.
Cinderford; Reuben Norville, Sam Smith, Jack Hayes, George Boulton, Jake Morris, Liam Hemming, Alex Frame, George Porter (Capt.), Nathan Taylor, Tim Brockett, George Evans, Dale Lemon, Jack Shields, Will Keenan, Harry Hone.
Replacements; Joe Smart, Tom Bozzard, James Elliot, Matthew Bennett, Ewan Fenley.