Cinderford United won their first Zoo London Shield league match at the third attempt with a superb team performance against the second team of Championship side Ealing Trailfinders. The United made a quick start and went ahead after seven minutes when full back Jack Wakefield danced over for an unconverted try following a slick pass from centre Ollie Whiting. Ealing responded and launched numerous attacks that caused the United problems but the Cinderford defence, although stretched, was always secure. Nevertheless two penalties were conceded and Ealing were ahead by a single point on the half hour mark. The Cinderford front five forwards, boosted by the presence of Joe Smart, Ryan Charles and Lance Randall, were beginning to exert real pressure on their opponents and shortly before half time a driving maul from a line out allowed number 8 Loti Molitika the opportunity to regain the lead for the United with a second unconverted try.
The heavens opened during half time and torrential rain lashed down on Dockham Road. Cinderford restarted with the heavy rain in their faces but the home produced an emphatic and dominant second half performance that simply ground their visitors into submission. A dominant scrum allowed their back row and half backs to influence the game and territorially the home side dominated. A third and decisive Cinderford try always looked likely to come. Aggressive Cinderford tackling inside the Ealing twenty two caused panic in the visitors play and passes were spilled. From one such misplaced pass Whiting fly hacked ahead and comfortably won the race to touch down. The same player then converted superbly. From here on the United simply went up another gear and were superior in virtually all departments. Molitika and Randall caused havoc with storming runs and a fourth try finally came when Molitika fed replacement wing Liam Littleton close to the Ealing try line for the youngster to cross. Whiting’s conversion from the touch line hit the post. Despite the weather nothing could deter the United and Ealing posed few problems in the remainder of the game.
Cinderford United; Jack Wakefield (James Colman), Jason Graham (Liam Littleton), Ollie Whiting, Alan Bryan (Seb Merritt) (Capt), Sam Baker, Tom Law, Geraint Davies, Michael Davies, Ryan Charles, Joe Smart (Toby Farrier), Lance Randall, Milo Reynolds, Will Hodgetts, Mitch Bourne, Loti Molitika.