Cinderford Match Report
Cinderford 17 Stow-on-the-Wold 10
On Sunday Cinderford U14s played Stow-on-the-Wold at Dockham Road in miserably wet, overcast conditions in a match that kicked of late. Both sides were depleted in strength and numbers, due largely to several key players being called away to participate in Gloucester Rugby Junior Talent Development Programme training, run through the Hartpury Sports Academy. As a consequence of the format and late start, both sides agreed to play a thirteen a side format of just twenty minutes each way.
(Cinderford under early pressure from Stow)
In total Cinderford were down 10 players from their full squad, which gave those in attendance the opportunity to shine. Unfortunately, the rainy conditions did not help matters; the ball was like a bar of wet soap and play was significantly interrupted by the almost inevitable number of handling errors, which meant this was never going to be a high scoring match.
(Cinderford and Stow compete for lineout ball in the rain)
Stow played the conditions wisely, carrying the ball forward steadily through their heavier and organised pack. Cinderford also played well up front, but were occasionally tempted to revert to their natural quick handling game across the backline, which led to a few frustrating handling errors in the poor conditions.
(Cinderfords Tom Ward turns the Stow defence and breaks for the corner, supported by Adam Wilce)
First off the mark were Stow, who took advantage of some indifferent Cinderford tackling to power over in the left corner for a try, which went unconverted, to give the visitors a 5-0 lead after six minutes. Parity was restored just short of the quarter hour mark, after Cinderford gathered their own lineout ball just inside their 22 meter line and worked it across the back line out to Tom Ward on the left wing. Having collected the ball on the 10meter line inside his own half, Ward took on the Stow defence and powered around the outside before racing away up the left flank to score near the corner to level the scores at 5-5. The conversion attempt from out wide was missed and the scores remained level going into half time.
Two minutes after the restart Ward made another break for Cinderford, supported by fullback Adam Wilce on the outside. Cinderford ran into heavy defensive traffic near the left touchline on the opposition 22 and the Stow forwards were able to secure turn over ball, which they promptly cleared with a kick up field. However, the loose ball was picked up 5meters inside his own half by Luke Kell, who saw acres of space to attack on the opposite flank and cut an excellent diagonal run across the centre of the park and through the visitors defence before being brought down just inside the Stow 22. Scrum half Charlie Gayther was in quick support and popped the ball out sharply to fullback Adam Wilce, who raced around the stretched Stow defence and across for an unconverted try in the corner, to give Cinderford the lead at 10-5.
(Luke Kell on his cuts across the park in the build up to Cinderfords second try)
Stows forwards continued to apply good pressure and, thirteen minutes into the second period having gained momentum in a well orchestrated drive, were again able to take advantage of some further weak tackling to crash through and level the scores at 10-10 with their second unconverted try.
As this nervy contest drew to a close, with both sides looking for the telling score, it was Cinderfords Jamie Buffry who clinched the win with a scything run through the middle of the park to wrong foot the Stow defence and break away to score unopposed under the posts. Ryan Waldings conversion kick made it 17-10, which remained the final score.
(Jamie Buffry runs in Cinderfords match winning third try)
Cinderfords man of the match was prop, Jake Drinkwater, who had an excellent battling match up front, making some important hits and taking the game strongly to Stow throughout.
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