Cinderford Match Report
Drybrook 5 Cinderford 21
Cinderford U14s put in a solid away performance at the home of their nearest rivals at Drybrook, coming away with a 21-5 win. Typically, this absorbing and well contested local derby got off to a nervy start, with occasional handling errors and turn overs by both sides breaking up early passages of play. In the main, Cinderford were the more attacking and enterprising side with ball in hand, whereas Drybrook showed tremendous spirit and determination in defence.
(Adam Briginshaw kicks ahead for Cinderford)
The first 15 minutes saw Cinderford camped in the Drybrook half, but it took until the twentieth minute for Cinderford to score the opening try their early territorial advantage deserved. With just short of ten minutes gone Cinderford spurned the opportunity to close out a period of sustained pressure with a score, when they accidentally knocked on just short of the Drybrook line in the corner. However, after twenty minutes Jamie Buffry, playing at fly half and having arguably his best match yet for Cinderford, collected a high kick from his Drybrook opposite number and burst through from 20 meters out to score at the posts. Jason Walding converted.
Ten minutes later, an excellent passage of forwards pick and drive play, with Jake Drinkwater, Sam Baker and Matt Hawkins as the main ball carriers, took Cinderford to within a meter of the Drybrook try line, where the ball was quickly picked up by scrum half Rhys Gardner and popped into the path of Jamie Buffry, who powered under the posts for his second try, which he converted to make it 14-0 with the last act of the first half.
Half Time : Drybrook 0 Cinderford 14
(Jamie Buffry crashing over for Cinderford second try against Drybrook)
For much of the second period the pattern of play mirrored that of the first, with Cinderfords attacking flair being checked by Drybrooks strong and committed defence. The Cinderford back row of Matt Hawkins, Liam Littleton and Chance Ridler had a fine match, particularly in the second period, which saw them collectively secure increasing amounts of important turn over ball at key moments to keep the home side on the back foot.
When Cinderford initially failed to bring a long kick ahead under control deep inside their own 22, Chance Ridler recovered the situation superbly, scooping up the loose ball and handing off several advancing Drybrook players as he accelerated on a diagonal cross field run that took him into the Drybrook half before offloading in the tackle. Through multiple phases of play the ball was then worked back across to Nathan Francis standing out wide on the left wing. The Cinderford winger raced up the line but was bundled into touch 15 meters short by an outstanding Drybrook cover tackle. An excellent all round passage of play.
As the clock ran down Cinderford pressed for the telling score that would settle the match. When Drybrooks outside half, Ben Large, was made to hurry a clearance kick from inside his in-goal area, Cinderfords Josh Lee charged down superbly and Drybrook were forced to drop onto the loose ball to concede a 5m scrum. From Charlie Gaythers put in, the ball was worked quickly back to the feet of No.8 Chance Ridler, who picked up and crashed through for a try which, when converted by Jack Hopkins, made it 21-0 to Cinderford with less than five minutes to go.
Having not had their try line seriously threatened, Cinderford then gifted Drybrook a scoring chance in the final minute. When a Cinderford clearance kick was picked up by the Drybrook fullback near the half way line he returned it with interest up the centre of the park and looked to give chase but, two advancing Cinderford players impeded him needlessly and, in doing so, conceded a penalty from the spot where the ball landed near the 10meter line. The tap penalty was taken quickly by Ben Large, who drove hard and low for the line to score a late consolation try for Drybrook. As the conversion attempt sailed just wide, referee Paul Greenway, who also had a very good match, blew the final whistle to bring the match to a close at 21-5 to Cinderford.
 |
© 2007 Mike Charnock | Designed & Maintained by MTC Online |
|