Cinderford RFC

Cross Keys 22 Cinderford 20

Cinderford travelled to Cross keys in South Wales to play their 3rd trial match, against a very good Welsh outfit who finished sixth in the Welsh championship last season – seeing them qualify them for the British and Irish cup. This was a game that Cinderford should have won, if only Rory Teague had not left his kicking boots at home.

The first half was a very even contest, two well matched sides. After 20 min Cross keys were awarded a penalty inside the Cinderford 22 for a high tackle. Instead of kicking for the posts they kicked to the corner. At the lineout Cinderford turned over the ball and were able to clear the defence, good solid defensive work by the Cinderford forwards.

After half an hour Cinderford began to get on top with a series of effective rolling mauls. Cross keys had no answer to this and gave away numerous penalties. Two
minutes before half-time Cinderford had a good passage of play. They went through 9 phases then a clever chip through by 10 Rory Teague turned the Welsh sides rush defence and Cinderford were awarded a penalty which was missed by Teague .

On the stroke of half-time Cross keys prop Richard Cornock was caught quite a way offside and was sent to the sin bin. Half-time score Cross keys 0 Cinderford 0

Two minutes into the second half poor hands by Cinderford back Simone James allowed winger Nathan Trowbridge to run from half way un-opposed to score under the posts, converted by Mills, to make the score Cross keys 7 Cinderford 0.

A swift response by Cinderford saw Alan Bryan make a great break from 40m out to go over in the corner, but the conversion missed by Teague. Cross keys 7 Cinderford 5.

On 51 min a great break by Cross keys winger Trowbridge was well covered by Teague and Trigg who cleared the ball to touch on their own 5 metre line. Cross Keys took clean ball and went for a catch and drive, but Cinderford’s defence held firm.
However Cross Keys were awarded a penalty, which was quickly taken and moved across the line. It was intercepted by James who raced clear only to be adjudged offside, for which he was then sin binned. A penalty was awarded to Cross Keys in front of the posts which was scored by Mills, Cross Keys 10 Cinderford 5

With Cinderford down to 14 men Cross Keys started to get on top. They had a scrum in midfield on Cinderford’s 22, the ball was moved wide quickly for winger Marcus Johnstone to go over in the corner unopposed. The conversion was missed, Cross keys 15 Cinderford 5.

Straight from the restart Cinderford’s forwards piled on the pressure and turned the ball over. It was given quickly back to Teague who kicked cross field to Nev Codlin out wide. Codlin gathered the ball and touched down in the corner, but a tough conversion was missed by Teague. Cross keys 15 Cinderford 10.

On the hour mark good pressure from Cross Keys saw a well worked blindside move resulting in Johnstone going over in the corner for his second try of the game. This was converted by Mills to make the score Cross keys 22 Cinderford 10.

On 70 minutes Cinderford had the ball inside their own 5metre line, but a clever cross field kick by Teague out wide to Codlin stretched Cross Keys. Codlin beat two men and chipped the ball forward into centre field, where it was moved wide following good support play by Kai Done, who finally gathered the ball to go over in the corner. Another tough conversion was missed by Teague. Cross keys 22 Cinderford 15.

With 10 minutes remaining constant pressure by Cinderford saw them awarded a penalty kick, which they kicked to touch on the Cross Keys 5metre line. Cross Keys turned over the lineout and cleared down field, but Cinderford ran the clearance straight back, and a great line ran by Trigg saw him split the defence. Good tracking back by the Cross Keys winger slowed the ball up enough for help to arrive, but they went straight over the top and a penalty was awarded to Cinderford. The ball was kicked to touch, and from the last play of the game from the lineout Cinderford won clean ball and drove Cross Keys back. Cross Keys had no answer to Cinderford’s aggressive push and Dewi Scourfield came up with the ball to push over for a try. With the final kick of the game Teague had the chance to tie the scores but missed his final kick of the day to leave Cross keys as winners of a tight and exciting match.

Full-time score. Cross Keys 22 Cinderford 20

Teams

Cross Keys

Lee, Trowbridge, N Williams, P Williams, Johnstone, Mills, Dyer, Cornock, Price
Jones, Hodge, Rawlings, Trayhern, Nash, Lampard

Cinderford

Trigg, Codlin, James, Scourfield, Stapleton, Teague, Draper, Price, Wilkes, Bundy
King, Mckee, Allen, Foden, Evans