Cinderford ended a seven match losing run to gain a much needed and well deserved bonus point victory over Wharfedale.
Tom Davidson was on target with a penalty for the visitors to open the scoring after eight minutes, but the home side responded with two tries in quick succession. First of all outside-half Lloyd Evans stepped back inside to beat the defence and score an unconverted try, then the ball was recycled through several phases before second-row Lance Randall forced his way over, with Evans adding the conversion.
Cinderford continued to press forward and Evans grabbed his second try, when he finished off some good approach play with another very well taken try, which he also converted. Wharfedale came back strongly as half-time approached, but the home defence held firm and the score remained 19-3 at the interval.
The opening quarter of the second-half was scoreless, but the visitors gave themselves some hope when Alex Powell scored a try from a 5m lineout, which Davidson converted. Cinderford were quick to respond though when prop Jake Caulfield stole through on an opposition lineout to claim his side’s fourth try, which went unconverted.
The visitors looked to have claimed something from the match when Joe Altham scored a try in the closing minutes, which Davidson converted, but Mark Davies put over an injury time penalty to deny them a losing bonus point.
MOTM – Al Bryan – Cinderford
Cinderford – Mike Wilcox, Chris Hawkins (Clive Stuart-Smith 49), Al Bryan, Jack Adams, Sam Baker, Lloyd Evans (Mark Davies 61), Alex Frame, Jake Caulfield (Mike Davies 70), Sam Wilkes (Dave Wheeler 59), Elliot Booley, Lance Randall, Milo Reynolds (Mike Uren 61), Roger Birkin, George Mills, George Evans