Cinderford Welcome Worthing: Confident for Another BIG Home Win
Saturday 8th March (National 1 KO 2.30pm)
This weekend with a good weather forecast being promised, Cinderford returns home to repeat their big 5 point win against Blaydon two weeks ago. In what appears to be Worthing Raiders’ first visit to the Beavis Memorial Ground, both sides will be fighting for the points in this exciting game as they sit side by side in the league, although the Foresters do still have three games in hand.
Earlier in the week, Andy Deacon, director of rugby said: “We started and finished well at Blackheath last Saturday but that’s not good enough and it was a lesson in the necessity to play for 80 minutes. For the first 20 minutes we controlled the game and edged into a 9-3 lead but we gave away some sloppy penalties, had a man sent to the sin-bin and that really affected us. It resulted in two tries that really changed the momentum of the game and they came out in the second half, played down the slope and we fell off a few tackles. We did come back in the last 20 minutes, scored a couple of tries and even had a kick at goal to grab a bonus point which unfortunately we didn’t manage to get. Every defeat is tough to take but with the situation we find ourselves in at the moment, the importance of every one is magnified. We just have to stick to our guns, we have two home games on the bounce and if we win those the table will look very, very different.”
“On Saturday we play Worthing, who are just six points ahead of us but have played three more games, so it’s all there for us and we just have to go out and do it. Worthing keep the ball well, score a lot of tries and pick up a lot of BPs but perhaps don’t have the best defence. We have to be calculated and ruthless and while we have to understand the importance of this match it’s absolutely vital that we stay calm and relaxed and stick to the game plan.”
“At Blackheath we had a lot of chances to score but didn’t take them and failed to turn pressure into points. We need to have patience and understanding to build towards scores. When we strike and don’t get the try we panic and start trying to force things, it’s been a problem all season. Two things have plagued us all year and that’s panicking and consistency. But I’m confident if we stay calm and play for the entire 80 we will get the results we need.”
Gloucester Rugby dual registered hooker, Koree Britton, makes his starting appearance in front of the home crowd with Tom Bozzard moving to the bench on rotation. Chris Bundy starts at loose head with Will Davis on the bench, also on rotation. Adam Balding makes a welcome return, a little later than first thought but in reality, due to cancelled fixtures, only missing two games; for Roger Birkin. Marcus Brown starts in place of Will Keenan and Danny Pointon comes on to the bench in place of George Mills. The bench comprises a 3:2 split as oppose to last week’s 4:1.
Other team news sees Cinderford United also at home on the club’s second pitch at the Bridge against Worthing Raiders A team. The Stags are away to Drybrook.
Good luck to all!
Cinderford RFC / @cinderfordrfc v Worthing Raiders / @worthingrfc
Backs:
15. Mike Wilcox
14. Nev Codlin
13. Jack Adams
12. Robbie Winchle
11. Sam Baker
10. Mark Davies
9. Clive Stuart-Smith
Forwards:
1. Chris Bundy
2. Koree Britton
3. Elliot Booley
4. Ed King
5. Tom Hicks
6. Adam Balding
7. Marcus Brown
8. George Evans ©
Replacements:
16. Will Davis
17. Tom Bozzard
18. Lance Randall
19. Danny Pointon
20. Stef Hawley