Cinderford Match Report
Cinderford 5 Cirencester 6
On Sunday, Cinderford and Cirencester U14s served up an intense, epic County Cup Quarter Final encounter. Due to the significant overnight downfall, both Cinderford’s first and second choice pitch options were completely washed out and so this match was played at Ruardean. As expected, both sides were very well matched, cancelling each other out for the majority of this game and it was clear from early on that the tie would probably be settled by the narrowest of margins.
Cinderford took the game strongly to Cirencester right from the start and had the greater share of possession and territory, but some unforced errors at critical moments relieved the pressure on the visitors. The Cirencester forwards initially got the upper hand in the set piece scrums but, as the game progressed, Cinderford’s forwards upped their game and turned the tables on their opponents to secure a more stable platform and even nick a couple of scrums against the head.
(Cinderford and Cirencester packs preparing to scrum down in this intense U14s County Cup Quarter Final encounter)
Some fairly strict interpretation of the laws of the game meant the warmest thing on the pitch was the referee’s whistle. As a result, the game became somewhat fragmented into a sequence of set pieces, particularly scrums, where a slightly more liberal interpretation of the advantage law might have yielded longer spells of flowing rugby. Nevertheless, this was a hugely enthralling match.
(Cinderford and Cirencester competing at the lineout )
Cinderford scrum-half Rhys Gardner made an outstanding tackle on the sizeable Cirencester No.8 to prevent a break down the left touchline towards the end of an evenly balanced first half that remained scoreless.
Halftime : Cinderford 0 Cirencester 0
Both sides ordinarily like to play an open, attacking style of rugby but, on this occasion, it was their respective defences that stood out. Cirencester’s defensive play at the ruck was exceptional and Cinderford’s defensive back line were simply immense, not allowing Cirencester to make a single clean break with ball in hand during the entire match and never once looking like conceding a try.Cinderford’s man of the match was their Captain and No.6, Matt Hawkins, who put in an exceptional tackle count and was also instrumental in setting up the only try of the match. Only moments after Cinderford had conceded a penalty to go 3-0 down, Hawkins launched himself at a loose ball deep inside the Cirencester 22 to win the ball on the floor and set it back for Jason Walding to collect and crash over in the left corner from close range to take Cinderford into a 5-3 lead with just over ten minutes to go.
(Matt Hawkins hauls down the sizeable Cirencester No.8 )
Where Cirencester shaded this match was at the breakdown, particularly the ruck, where their back up play and clearing out was superbly effective in securing turn over ball at key moments in the match. By contrast, Cinderford were occasionally a little slower in their support of the ball carrier and this ultimately cost them the game.
(Adam Wilce on the counter attack for Cinderford)
On two occasions in the second half, when Cirencester kicked ahead for territory, Cinderford countered with ball in hand but their ball carriers became isolated and were penalised for not releasing on the floor as the Cirencester forwards looked to wrest the ball from the tackled player’s grasp. With the wind at their backs, Cirencester opted to kick for the posts and on both occasions their scrum half showed tremendous technique and a steady nerve to slot the ball home; the first kick glancing back in off the upright but the second was an impressive, clinical kick from wide on the left and 30 yards out that went straight through the middle of the uprights and cleared with yards to spare. This second penalty edged the visitors in front by a single point with just 5-minutes left to play.
Cinderford put in a fantastic final push but the Cirencester’s defence held out and the visitors celebrated the narrowest of winning margins to progress to the semi finals, where they will travel to meet St. Mary’s Old Boys. Despite the disappointments of the result the Cinderford lads can be very proud of their tremendously determined team performance and superb defence in this tightest of contests.
The game was warmly appreciated by all involved and the players and supporters of Cinderford U14s wish Cirencester the very best of luck in the next round.
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© 2007 Mike Charnock | Designed & Maintained by MTC Online |
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