Cinderford picked up their first victory of this season’s National One campaign with an excellent bonus point victory at Wharfedale.
The visiting forwards were on top for much of the match, and this allowed Callum Sheedy to control the game from fly-half. He opened the scoring with a penalty, before home scrum-half Joe Doherty’s quick thinking put Huw Morgan over for an unconverted try. Sheedy put over a drop-goal to regain the lead for Cinderford, and it was his break that created the opportunity for centre Sam Hanks to race over for a try under the posts, with the successful conversion making it 13-5 at the interval.
The teams began the second-half with an unconverted try apiece, as George Headley crossed for Wharfedale, while Rob Winchle did the same for Cinderford. Dale gained a slender lead when Cameron Hughes and then Josh Burridge touched down, however Cinderford regained the initiative when hooker Davy McGregor went over from a well excecuted lineout catch and drive before Sheedy landed his second penalty.
The home side once again responded strongly and they reduced the deficit to one point when Hudson scored his second try in the corner, with Jamie Guy finally on target with his conversion. That set up a tense finish to the match, but the home side tried to run the ball from deep a loose pass was gathered up and Hanks went over for his second try to secure a rare victory on their hosts ground.
Cinderford team:
Mike Wilcox (capt), Jack O’Connell, Sam Hanks, Robbie Winchle, Alex Pickersgill, Callum Sheedy, Jimmy Williams, Chris Bundy, Davy McGregor, Francisco Bruno, Milo Reynolds, Roger Birkin, George Mills, Marcus Brown, Matt Lane.
Replacements; Will Goodrick-Clarke, Joe Mullis, Will Scholes, Dan Pointon, James Moffat.