Coach Fortey happy with Cinderford’s progression

AFTER failing to hit the lofty heights of last season so far, Cinderford coach Lee Fortey admits he is happy with their progress.

In their first campaign in the old National Two, now renamed National One, they pulled off some big scalps to finish in fifth place in their debut year.

However, a number of agonising narrow defeats have restricted them from repeating their previous feats and they currently sit 12th out of 16 teams.

A total of five teams were relegated from the division above as part of the RFU’s restructuring of the divisions and former Gloucester prop Fortey says it could be worse.

“We are not doing too bad if you look at it on the whole,” Fortey said.

“We have competed quite well overall but we have let ourselves down in certain games.

“If you look at our points total so far we definitely should have a few more.

“But we are happy with where we are because we could be a lot worse off.”

The Foresters’ second campaign at level three was always going to be made tough with so many good sides coming down from the division above.

It was not helped by the big spending London Scottish coming up from Lydney’s division either and being thrust right into the title race almost immediately.

Last summer a number of key individuals also left Dockham Road such as their experienced second row duo, former Cherry and Whites Rob Fidler and head coach Mark Cornwell.

That has left a void of experience in the side with the youngsters sometimes struggling to cope with the departures.

However, a recent change in coaching where new head coach Phil Greenaway has encouraged his team to play more open running rugby seems to be paying off.

Fortey added: “We have changed a few things around recently with our game plan in training and the boys are playing a bit more rugby.

“We are reaping the rewards a bit and we have a bit more confidence.”