Cinderford dominated top of the league Rams in a 37-17 win, which will be long remembered as one of their finest.
On a freezing cold afternoon at the Beavis Memorial Ground, Cinderford powered their way through the National League One leaders to maintain their undefeated home record. Top try scorer Nathan Taylor left his mark on the game, scoring his 17th of the season in the first half, before being brought off injured just before the break. Scrum half Mike Austin also stole the show with a 100 percent effort from the tee, slotting over 17 of the 37 points for the home side. Impressive flanker Dec Fissenden also came away with a rolling maul try that gave Cinderford a dream start to the match.
Rams were forced into conceding penalty after penalty across the 80 minutes, which gifted the hosts numerous opportunities. The visitors looked sharp in attack as fly half Rowan Grundy found fullback Will Partington with a floated cross field kick to dot down in the corner for their first points on the board. The half time score was 17-5, two scores from the rolling maul, and the boot of Austin did not falter for a penalty for Rams wavering offside.
Despite the efforts of Rams’ James McRae who barged his way through the solid defence all game, crucial turnovers from Jamie Forrester kept the score line the same. Just when the visitors looked to fire some shots of their own, outside centre George Gladding gratefully intercepted a loose pass and raced over under the sticks, Austin converted. With another penalty from Austin the score read 27-5 but Rams answered back with a try from Ollie Moffitt, who dived over after breaking away from a maul. A break from a hot stepping Austin gained Cinderford territory, only for the opposition to be penalised for off feet at the ruck, allowing Austin to extend the lead, 30-12. Grundy created almost an identical try with a cross field kick but this time it was for winger Henry Bird who claimed it and darted over the line.
At 30-17, Cinderford were hungry to make a statement with a bonus point score. Ten minutes into overtime, they did just that with an almost full team maul with the backs included, it was prop Shaun Knight who got on the end of it. One touchline kick remained for Austin to hold that one-hundred percent kicking accuracy, which he confidently slotted over to complete the perfect game against a so far impressive Rams side.
Cinderford; Mike Wilcox, Mason Tonks, George Gladding, Jamie Forrester, Will Hendy, George Boulton, Mike Austin, George Porter, Nathan Taylor, Shaun Knight, Tyler Jerrum, Jack Shields, Matt Lane, Dec Fissenden, George Angell.
Repls; Tim Brockett, Jenson Boughton, Dan Hodge, Jonny Holliday, Jimmy Williams.