The first ever meeting between these two sides proved to be a real cracker, with Cinderford recovering from a 19-0 deficit in the early stages to earn themselves a bonus point victory.
It was Bury St Edmunds who made all the early running with centre Sam Sterling scoring their opening try after just two minutes, which Liam McBride converted. More good approach play from the visitors then created an opening for scrum-half Pierre Peres to score the simplest of tries, again converted by McBride. A third try followed soon afterwards when flanker Sean Stapleton strolled over from a ruck on the home 22m line, to give his team a very healthy looking lead.
Cinderford finally got their game into gear and following a series of scrum re-sets the referee awarded them a penalty try, which James Moffat converted to make it 7-19 at the interval.
The home side needed a positive start to the second-half and they got it when they went through the phases before outside-half Liam Hemming darted over near the posts, with Moffat adding the conversion. More pressure near the visitors line saw Cinderford score again, with prop James Tideswell going over and Moffat’s conversion putting them ahead after 55 minutes of play.
Moffat then landed a penalty before Adam Balding scored the home side’s bonus point try. There was still time for Bury St Edmunds to score again through replacement Chris Lord, with McBride converting to set up a tense finish, but Cinderford had just done enough to earn their victory.
Cinderford; James Moffat, Harrison Yoke, Reuben Norville, Rob Winchle, Harry Robinson, Liam Hemming, Dan Pointon, George Porter (Capt.), Henry Walker, James Tideswell, Adam Balding, Dale Lemon, Jack Shields, Marcus Brown, Matt Lane.
Replacements; Joe Smart, Will Haly, Alex Seville, Chris McNeil, Jimmy Williams.