Cinderford recovered from a 19-3 deficit at half-time to edge out the Students in a thrilling encounter that remained in the balance right up to the final whistle.
The visitors soon began to show their attacking intent and pacey winger Alex Davis sprinted clear to score a try, which he also converted. Soon afterwards Davis added a second try, which he duly converted, before Mike Wilcox opened Cinderford’s account with a penalty. Sam Katz was next to score for the Students, with an unconverted try as the visitors reached the interval with a healthy looking advantage.
It was all change in the second-half though as Cinderford began to turn things around. From the re-start they put their opponents line under great pressure and that eventually led to Roger Birkin crossing for a try. More excellent handling from the home side then led to a try for centre Jack Adams, which Mike Wilcox converted after a long delay following an injury to a visiting player.
As the match went into the final ten minutes Cinderford were encamped deep in their opponents 22, and when an attempted pushover from a 5m scrum was stopped illegally the referee awarded a penalty try which Wilcox converted. Despite some anxious moments in the closing stages, Cinderford just held on to claim an important victory.
CINDERFORD: S.Hawley, N.Codlin, J.Adams, R.Winchle, S.Baker, M.Wilcox, C. Stuart-Smith (D.Pointon H/T), W Davis ,T Bozzard , E Booley (T.Heard 66), E King (L.Randall 48), T Hicks, R Birkin , W Keenan, G Mills.
Unused replacements: Ryan Charles, Sam Hanks
Man of the match: Tom Hicks