Following a highly successful season at u-13 level, Cinderford u-14 travelled to Abergavenny for the opening fixture of the new season.
With a number of new arrivals and some departures, together with having to play fifteen a side, meant that there was a slightly unfamiliar look to this year’s first starting line-up. There were debuts for Josh and Adam, however there were enough old heads out there to suggest that the team would be able to carry to on from where they left off last season.
Abergavenny started brightly and went through a number of phases, however, from their first spell of possession Cinderford opened the scoring after two minutes. With the Cinderford forwards in control and the backs full of running, further tries followed with Cinderford posting four tries within the first ten minutes, all of which were converted by Toby, who had a fine afternoon with the boot.
Abergavenny competed well at the breakdown, and at times were able to turn-over Cinderford possession, however they had no answer to Cinderford’s free-flowing counter attacking rugby, and the tries continued to come.
The second half followed the same pattern as the first, with Cinderford continuing to pressure the Abergavenny line. To their credit Abergavenny defended well, but almost inevitably Cinderford continued to clock up the tries.
The game finished 10 minutes early following an injury to one of the Abergavenny players.
This was a good first run out for the Cinderford side, there are areas which the coaches will need to work on, but overall there were plenty of reasons to be optimistic and about the rest of the season.
Coach’s Man of the match went to Tom, who showed a fine pair of hands and great commitment in the tackle.
Ref’s Man of the match went to Ed N for playing the game in the right spirit.
Cinderford Try scorers: George M, Will x 2, Coby, Ed N x 2, Wilf, James x 2, and Dan
Conversions: Toby x 8
Next Fixture: Cheltenham North at home 17th Sept