Cinderford kept their National One survival hopes alive with a bonus point victory over Richmond at the Beavis Memorial Ground.
It was the visitors who made the early running, with full-back Rob Kirby opening the scoring with a successful penalty after just three minutes of play. The home side responded with two penalties from young outside-half Callum Sheedy to take a 6-3 lead into the second quarter.
More good play from Sheedy then created the game’s opening try, when his well angled grubber kick enabled Stef Hawley to gather up and score an unconverted try. Richmond put their opponents line under severe pressure towards the end of the half, but the home defence held firm.
The second half saw the visitors soon back to within a point, when Will Browne burst through to score a try which Kirby converted. It was Cinderford though who responded well and gradually began to take the away from their opponents. Hawley surged over for his second try, then Leo Fielding intercepted and ran in from 70m to set the home crowd alight, with Sheedy adding the conversion.
Fielding almost scored again, before Sheedy stepped inside to go over for the bonus point try after 65 minutes. Cinderford made certain of their victory with eight minutes remaining, and it was Fielding again who picked off another interception to sprint away for his second try, which Sheedy converted to complete the scoring.
MOTM – Leo Fielding, Cinderford
Cinderford – Mike Wilcox, Leo Fielding, Sam Hanks, Jack Adams (Rob Winchle 61), Stef Hawley, Callum Sheedy, Clive Stuart-Smith (Danny Pointon 47), Chris Bundy, Luke Cole (Sam Wilkes 67), Elliot Booley (Jake Caulfield 73), Ed King, Milo Reynolds (Sam Underhill 52), Roger Birkin, George Mills, George Evans