With only pride to play for in this match between two relegated teams, it was Cinderford who claimed the victory, but only just as Henley staged a dramatic comeback to almost earn a draw.
It was the visitors who made the better start to the match, and they opened the scoring when winger Jake Randall scored an unconverted try. More good approach work from Henley then led to another try, with this time No8 Justin Watkins getting the touchdown.
Cinderford responded when Mike Wilcox opened up Henley defence and Sam Hanks managed to hold on to the ball and score a try which James Moffat converted. Scrum-half Alex Frame put the home side ahead after some excellent support play, and just before half-time winger Harrison Yorke raced clear to score another well taken try. Moffat landed both conversions to make 21-10 at the interval.
Moffat continued his 100% success rate when he kicked two penalties in the early stages of the second-half and Cinderford looked to be in control when second-row Ed King scored the bonus point try from a lineout catch and drive, with Moffat once again on target with the conversion.
But back came Henley with Liam O’Neill and Randall scoring unconverted tries in quick succession, and when O’Neill added his second, which Ben Palmer converted, with ten minutes still remaining, the visitors were right back in the match. Both sides had their chances in the closing stages, but it was Cinderford who had just done enough.
Cinderford; Mike Wilcox (Capt.), Harrison Yorke, Sam Baker, Sam Hanks, Lloyd Stapleton, James Moffat, Alex Frame, Will Goodrick-Clarke, Tom Bozzard, Elliot Booley, Roger Birkin, Ed King, Adam Balding, George Mills, Matt Lane. Reps: Jake Drinkwater, Davy McGregor, Marcus Brown, Milo Reynolds, Clive Stuart-Smith.