In what was a slow start for Cinderford, they found their groove in the second half to defeat Leeds Tykes 50 – 12 in National League Division One.
The still unbeaten Cinderford extended their brilliant start to the season and won their seventh game on the bounce, scoring seven tries. However, Leeds Tykes did not make it easy in the opening moments of what was their first visit to the Beavis Memorial Ground. Second row Jake Brady linked up well with winger Harry Jukes, who touched down for the visitors opening score. With the conversion attempt unsuccessful, scrum half William Hardwick broke through a tight gap around the fringes, which released his halfback partner Charles Morgan to run in under the sticks. Full-back Charlie Venables slotted over his conversion, which raised the lead for his side 0 – 12.
Despite this early shock for top of the table Cinderford, they soon found their attacking structure and pinned Tykes in their own half. The home scrum was a key weapon that kept Leeds down in their 22. In what was an end to end first half, home back rower Joe Dancer scored the opener in what turned out to be a man of the match performance on his behalf. The score was then levelled by Cinderford fly half Reece Boughton, who converted his own try. The difference maker was the boot of Boughton which gave them the lead for the first time, providing a half time score of 15-12.
Leeds were still very much in this league fixture at the re-start, and they continued to look dangerous with ball in hand but the opening score of the second-half was always going to be crucial, and it was home centre Liam Hemming who ran the strike line that opened the gap on the inside for full-back Mike Wilcox to score, Boughton converted to make it 22-12 and from this point Cinderford took control. A surge at scrum time gave Hemming the front foot ball to run over at 54 minutes into the match which handed his side the bonus point and the league leaders turned on the style in the closing stages to score three more tries from Will Baldwin, George Boulton and Will Hendy, all of which were converted by Boughton.
Cinderford; Mike Wilcox, Will Baldwin, Jamie Forrester, Liam Hemming, Will Hendy, Reece Boughton, Mike Austin, Joe Smart, Nathan Taylor, James Elliot, Jack Shields, George Evans, Joe Dancer, Joe Mullis, Harry Hone.
Repls; George Porter, Tim Brockett, Jack Preece, Aaron Ryan, George Boulton.