Cinderford Match Report

Cinderford 50 Old Richians 17

A depleted Old Richians side visited Dockham Road on Sunday, so the match was played with 13-a-side. Cinderford started brightly, with a fine attacking run by Chance Ridler. This early move broke down, but the ensuing Richians penalty kick was caught by Jake Bonser at the start of a flowing cross field move that resulted in Tom Ward scoring a try under the posts, duly converted by Jack Hopkins, after just 2 minutes.

A high pace run by Nathan Francis was brought sharply to a halt by the Old Richians outside half, who quite literally put his body on the line, but in doing so was injured and unable to take further part in the game. With no Richians substitutes available, Cinderfords Ryan Walding was brought on to play for the opposition in the outside half role for the remainder of the game.

By now, Cinderford were now moving the ball around well through quick and clean handling and having much the better game. From another Richians clearance kick, fullback Adam Wilce caught and ran with the ball, passing along to the Cinderford back line. Although losing the ball just short of the Richians line, Cinderford won the following close range scrum against the head from which flanker Liam Littleton emerged with the ball and crossed to score Cinderfords second try after 15 minutes; Jack Hopkins converted to make it 14-0.

Richians continued to press forwards but, from a set piece move after just 20 minutes, Tom Ward burst through with a weaving run to score under the posts, again converted by Jack Hopkins for 21-0. This third Cinderford score seemed to galvanise Richians into action and, two minutes later, a delightful handling move, aided by some poor Cinderford defence, saw the visitors score an unconverted try in the corner as a just reward for their efforts.

From the restart, Richians came forward again, and with Cinderford infringing, Richians were awarded a penalty. However, the penalty kick was sliced and collected by Chance Ridler, who made a scintillating run across field, handing off at least three Richians tackles, before popping the ball to Jamie Buffry to score an unconverted try.

Despite this set back, Richians never gave up, pressing forward wherever possible in search of more points. When a fine Cinderford move involving Jamie Buffry and Liam Littleton came to a halt when the ball was knocked on, Richians took a quick tap penalty and looked set to score a certain try, but were thwarted by a deft Jack Hopkins tap tackle.

Half Time : Cinderford 26 Old Richians 5

Richians were quicker off the mark at the start of the second half and some quality passages of play and outstanding tackling by both sides made for a very entertaining match to watch. Chance Ridler put in the highest tackle count for Cinderford in this ferociously hard fought part of the game, including a try saving tackle in the corner. At this point a few replacement options were introduced into the game and, fifteen minutes into the second period, a free running Nathan Francis looped a pass to Adam Wilce, who sprinted up the wing to score Cinderfords fifth try which, when converted by Hopkins, extended the home sides lead to 33-5.

Cinderfords enterprising attacking play continued to come up against a dogged Richians defence and, when the visitors secured turn over ball and broke away, another score was looming, only to be stopped again by the Cinderford No.8, Chance Ridler. On this occasion, Ridler was supported by centre Luke Kell, who scooped up the loose ball and immediately went on the counter before unselfishly moving it wide to Adam Wilce who ran in for his second try of the match, this time unconverted, to make it 38-5.

The final replacements were introduced at this point and, whilst they were integrating into the side, Richians fought back with a try under the posts; with the conversion attempt hitting the post and rebounding back the scores remained at 38-10.

Cinderford quickly came back to life, with scrum half Charlie Gayther getting quick ball out to Jack Hopkins from the base of the scrum. Hopkins then sent Jack Richards away on a sparkling run, only to be stopped just short of the line.

When Cinderford made little ground following a tap penalty and got pushed backwards by Richians, Charlie Gayther recovered the situation when he picked the ball out of the ensuing ruck and popped a deft pass to Tom Ward, who ran on to score his hat-trick try, which went unconverted.

From a poor restart kick Sam Morse collected the ball and went on a mazy run, off-loading to Luke Kell, who ran on to score under the posts for Cinderfords eighth and final try of the match, converted once more by Jack Hopkins to make it 50-10.

The Richians restart on this occasion was much better and Cinderford seemed to go to sleep. A delightful kick through and chase by Richians saw the visitors score a well deserved converted try near the posts at the end of a match in which they never gave up.

Special thanks to Cinderfords Ryan Walding, for sportingly playing almost the entire match for Old Richians. Cinderfords man of the match was Chance Ridler, who had an outstanding match and seemed to be everywhere when it really mattered.