Cinderford came good in the final quarter of the match to earn themselves a welcome victory and complete the ‘double’ over Darlington Mowden Park.
The visitors were quickly into their stride and full-back Chris McTurk showed good skills to catch and return a kick ahead, then win a chase to line to score the opening try after just two minutes of play, with Warren Seals landing the conversion. The home side responded well and soon drew level when a perfectly timed inside pass realised winger Sam Smith to score near the posts, with George Barton kicking the conversion.
DMP had the better of territory and possession for the remainder of the first-half, but they were kept at bay some resolute defence from the Forest side and the score remained 7-7 at the interval.
Once again it was the visitors who were quickly pressing forward from the re-start and Seals dummied his way through to score a fine try which he also converted. The visitors looked to be in control as the match went into the last twenty minutes, but events took a dramatic twist when home centre Will Mansfield intercepted on the 10m line and ran clear through to score a try, which Barton converted to level up the scores again. Seals had the chance to put Park back ahead, but he was off target with a penalty, before Barton made sure of a home win with two well taken kicks at goal in the closing stages.
Cinderford; Harry Tovey, Sam Smith, Will Mansfield, Jack Hayes, Ed Sheldon, George Barton, Jimmy Williams, George Porter (Capt.), Joe Mullis, Tim Brockett, George Evans, Dale Lemon, Mat Gilbert, Jack Shields, Harry Hone. Replacements; Chris Bundy, Joe Smart, James Dean, Matthew Bennett, George Boulton.