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Three converted tries in the closing 15 minutes swung this match in Cinderford’s favour, although the majority of the match was a tense error-strewn affair between two sides looking for their first win of the season.
The home side started positively and when scrum-half Reece Boughton took a quick tapped penalty, flanker Marcus Brown raced through for a try under the posts, which Mark Davies converted. Ionians drew level when prop forward Toby Williams went over for a try from close range, which Chris Reakes converted. It was not a good day for the kickers of both sides and several penalties were missed before Boughton landed a kick from 40m out to put Cinderford 10-7 ahead after 30 minutes, and the score remained unchanged at the interval.
The second-half started at a frantic pace, with both sides missing further kicks at goal. However the home side were gradually building up the pressure on their opponents line and quick hands down the blindside enabled winger Chris Hawkins to just stretch out over the line to claim a try, which Boughton converted.
Jack Adams then released his centre partner Sam Hanks to score near the posts, and with the last play of the match Cinderford claimed the bonus point, when Nev Codlin caught a kick ahead from Davies and crossed for a fourth try, again converted by Boughton.
Cinderford RFC Man of the Match – Will Keenan
Backs
15. Mike Wilcox (Stef Hawley 74)
14. Nev Codlin
13. Jack Adams
12. Sam Hanks
11. Chris Hawkins
10. Mark Davies
9. Reece Boughton
Forwards
1. Chris Bundy (capt) (Joe Smart 74)
2. Tom Bozzard
3. Tom Heard
4. Lance Randall (Ed King 57)
5. Tom Hicks
6. Will Keenan
7. Marcus Brown
8. George Mills
Unused Replacements
Finlay Sinclair, Lloyd Stapleton