Cinderford Ready for A Big Game and A Big Win
v Loughborough Students KO 2.30pm
Saturday 29 March — National 1
With just six games remaining and full of energy following last week’s spirited performance and two points away at top tier Fylde Rugby, Cinderford relish this home game fixture against Loughbrough Students who sit a few places above them yet the Foresters have two games still in hand.
Earlier in the week Andy Deacon, director of rugby talked about the Fylde game: “We picked up two valuable points on our travels last weekend and I was very pleased with the attitude of the boys and how they stuck in there. Fylde are a very good side. We haven’t got good history against them and did really well to get the two points.”
“Tom Hicks, Nev Codlin, Chris Bundy and Adam Balding were all out injured and during the warm-up we lost our captain George Evans to a knee injury and Mark Davies also hurt his quad.While he was able to start, he lasted just two minutes. So that was six of our starting line-up out, which makes the achievement of picking up those two bonus-points against a top four team even more commendable. They’re not long term injuries so we should be okay and if anything it focused the boys’ minds because they knew they were up against it even more.”
“The players who stepped in were brilliant and it shows the depth we have here and the benefits of running two squads with United playing a great standard of rugby as well. The scrum and lineout went very well and they really bounced back with a performance following the disappointment of the previous week. We had a penalty at the end of the match and could have gone for the match-winning try but kicked the ball out to take the two. We received a little bit of feedback for that but earlier in the match we had already got ourselves two points in the bag and conceded an interception try to take us back to one. We worked very hard to get back within seven, the boys were out on their feet and it wasn’t worth taking that risk. We are an ambitious team but sometimes you have to be realistic and calculated. If you had offered me two points before kick-off I certainly would have taken it.”
“All the results around us, apart from Tynedale, went our way so our destiny is still very much in our own hands. This week the bottom six all play against each other so something will happen and there could be a good deal of movement. We play Loughborough, while Worthing take on Henley and Hull Ionians face Tynedale. I t will be a pivotal weekend but we can only look after what is in front of us and we will do everything possible to get the result. We are at home so as always we will be confident and just have to put in a performance we know we’re capable of. They will be up for it, they like to keep the ball and don’t kick a lot. But I’m hopeful that we will get quite a few guys back for selection contention.”
Just a few changes in the team this week see Mike Wilcox move to ten for the injured Mark Davies. Stef Hawley comes in for Mike Wilcox at 15. Nev Codlin returns on the wing for Sam Hanks who moves to the bench. Tom Bozzard starts at hooker, replacing Koree Britton who has been recalled by Gloucester Rugby. Tom Hicks returns after injury replacing Lance Randall who moves to the bench. Ryan Charles comes into the squad. Will Keenan completes the squad at 21.
Other Cinderford news sees Cinderford United away in South Wales to Senghenydd RFC KO at 2.30pm and the Stags away to North Bristol also at 2.30pm.
Good luck to all teams.
Cinderford RFC / @cinderfordrfc v Loughborough Students/ @Lufbrarugby
Backs:
15. Stef Hawley
14. Nev Codlin
13. Jack Adams
12. Robbie Winchle (Capt)
11. Sam Baker
10. Mike Wilcox
9. Clive Stuart-Smith
Forwards:
1. Will Davis
2. Tom Bozzard
3. Elliot Booley
4. Tom Hicks
5. Ed King
6. Roger Birkin
7. Will Keenan
8. George Mills
Replacements:
16. Tom Heard
17. Ryan Charles
18. Lance Randall
19. Danny Pointon
20. Sam Hanks