Cinderford United fell to a home defeat, in an excellent game of rugby, against a very good side from Wales. The game was only a few minutes old when Bargoed stated their intent. The visiting scrum half exploited a poorly organised Cinderford blind side defence to set up centre Greg Callow for an unconverted try. United captain Danny Trigg soon kicked a penalty in response and a fast paced, physical encounter ensued with both sides showing plenty of endeavour and commitment. Gradually it appeared that the home side was getting on top and after “tries” by prop James Brooks and second row Rich Mountford were ruled out for forward passes an adroit inside pass by Brooks, on the opposition 22 line, led to Mountford scoring under the posts. Trigg converted and then kicked a second penalty goal to extend the home side’s lead. Done was then sin binned, soon afterwards, for holding onto the football following a tackle. This disrupted the home side’s momentum and the visitors continued to look threatening but they too were weakened when their outstanding young full back Jordan Purcell was also sin binned for the same offence. When Done returned, just before half time, Cinderford scored their second try. Excellent handling by the home three quarters allowed them to exploit their numerical advantage and right wing Jack O’Connell scored on his debut. Trigg produced an excellent conversion and the home side had a healthy half time lead.
The home side began the second half and dominated territory for five minutes. However, their line out began to implode and with it a vital source of possession. With an increase in possession Bargoed became a real and vibrant threat. They had genuine pace throughout the backs and wing Ashley Norton danced through a static and hesitant Cinderford defence for a fine individual try. Fly half Josh Prosser converted. Bargoed’s ascendancy was aided by the sin binning of Cinderford’s replacement prop Chris Bundy for not retreating ten metres at a penalty. Bargoed became rampant and dismantled the home side in emphatic fashion. Bargoed hooker Ian Jenkins barreled over following a dynamic driving maul and despite the conversion hitting a post the visitors soon took the lead. The seven man Cinderford scrum was shunted backwards and despite Luke Allen’s valiant efforts to clear up the scrappy possession Bargoed scrum half Craig Wilson stripped him off the ball and ran forty metres unopposed for an unconverted try and the lead. Bundy returned and a visibly rattled home side tried to respond but when they spilled a ball in the visitor’s twenty two the Welshmen pounced. Full back Purcell exploded and ran away from a scrambling home defence and eventually found Norton inside the Cinderford half and he glided home for a fifth Bargoed try. Prosser converted and the visitor’s held out with comfort as Cinderford gamely pressed at the end. A great game justifiably won by the Welsh side.
Cinderford: Jack Wakefield (Edd Hainsworth), Jack O’Connell (Stefan Hawley), Pete Towers, Kai Done, Nathan Green, Danny Trigg, Will Merivale, James Brooks, Josh Haynes, Seb Merritt (Chris Bundy), Chris Williams (Jake Bonser), Rich Mountford, Ashley Brown (Roger Birkin), Jake Kitson, Luke Allen