Cinderford United produced an outstanding performance to beat the second team of Championship club Ealing Trailfinders on their own ground in West London. In doing so they achieved a notable double over the Londoners with a home Cinderford victory achieved back in October. The pitch was barely playable with several poor patches and both sides deserved huge credit for producing a high quality and passionate encounter. The visitors lost full back Jason Graham to a dislocated elbow within five minutes. Reece Boughton came on at scrum half with Alex Frame moving to full back. Ealing had first advantage of a significant wind and took the lead on 15 minutes with a simple penalty goal. However the United consistently produced superior scrummaging and made life very difficult for the home back row and half backs. From a scrum inside the home side’s twenty two the United surged forward and were illegally impeded by the home side in the process of scoring. A penalty try was correctly given and a simple conversion was kicked by Boughton. From a deep Ealing kick off the United were unlucky to knock a ball on and concerted pick and go’s by the home side put the United under severe pressure and eventually the home side forced their way over for a converted try but a 3 point margin, at half time, seemed surmountable for a buoyant United going into the second half with the wind behind them.
The cultured kicking of the United half backs Boughton and Tommy Law kept the home side penned deep in their territory and Frame looked certain to score as he fly hacked the ball over the Ealing try line but a wicked bounce took the ball over the in goal line before Frame could touch down. A penalty goal by Boughton levelled the scores but with an hour gone a rare visit by Ealing into Cinderford territory led to a penalty goal and a restoration of the home side’s 3 point lead. The United never panicked and their magnificent forward effort, continually dominant at both set pieces, always looked likely to be rewarded. From a line out, a full twenty metres from the Ealing try line, led to a dynamic United driving maul and with several backs joining the maul the United literally ran the ball over the home side’s line for a try credited to second row Tom Hicks. Boughton converted and the ever maturing United suffered few alarms as they ground out a superb victory in the remaining fifteen minutes.
Cinderford United;, Jason Graham (Reece Boughton), Robson Skipsey (Chance Ridler), Ollie Whiting, Stefan Hawley (Captain), Andrew Bulumakau, Tom Law, Alex Frame, James Brooks (Joe Smart), Tom Heard, Joe Smart (Ryan Charles), Milo Reynolds (Toby Farrier), Tom Hicks, Sam Morse (Will Hodgetts), Will Keenan, Loti Molitika.