Cinderford Match Report

Cinderford 61 North Walsham Vikings 0

CINDERFORD blasted below strength North Walsham with a 10-try salvo at sunny Dockham Road. Their third haul of 50 points or more this season maintains their unbeaten start to the campaign.

Wing James Copsey led the way with a hat-trick while Chris McNeil helped himself to a brace as the Foresters turned on the style.

Vikings were a shadow of the side that has challenged for promotion over the last few seasons and their cause wasn't helped when injuries meant they had used their four replacements in the first half hour of the game.

Cinderford, though, took full advantage of their opponents' discomfort and posted five tries in each half.

They dominated the opening exchanges and opened the scoring with a long-range Tristan Roberts penalty in the opening minute.

After spurning a number of good chances, the first try came in the 16th minute, Vince Lanciano firing the scoring pass to Copsey for a try in the corner after good hands down the line had created the opportunity.

Copsey was in again two minutes later as Sean Lynn's well-judged high kick bounced badly for the defence, which was still reorganising after full back Andy Thorpe's departure through injury, and was grabbed from Rob James' hands by the winger who sped to the line.

Roberts was off target with both the conversions but improved the next try scored by McNeil after a catch and drive routine had mauled the ball nearly 30 metres to the line.

Two more tries before the interval ended Walsham's interest in the contest.

First, the bonus point was secured as a classy move spread across the pitch from a line-out and Roberts made the break, feeding Dewi Scourfield who put Danny Trigg over for the score.

Then in stoppage time, Nigel Matthews scored from a catch and drive after Vikings winger Tom Holt was isolated fielding a clever Scourfield kick and clung on to the ball too long.

Cinderford 30 North Walsham Vikings 0

Facing a 30-0 interval deficit, Vikings showed more enterprise and spirit at the start of the second period and enjoyed the lions' share of territory and possession but Cinderford's defence held firm.

After weathering the storm, McNeil bagged his second try from another catch and drive from the pack who were by now firmly in charge.

Their scrummaging and mauling was particularly strong and the next score came after they had wheeled successive Vikings scrums to gain possession.

Lynn's pass from the scrum was slightly in front of Roberts but he stretched to gather the ball and showed superb balance to skip round his man and accelerate to the posts, giving himself an easy conversion.

Jed Hooper then crossed for a try mysteriously disallowed by the referee after great work by the forwards and backs had taken play smoothly upfield, but the Foresters' eighth try was soon on the board.

Fine passing from Will Merivale and Roberts sent Vince Lanciano over by the posts, Roberts converting for 49-0.

By now the home side were really enjoying themselves. Copsey began the next try, gathering a long clearance kick and counterattacking with a little chip for himself.

He regathered and raced through a splintered defence before feeding Adesina Obileye who found Toby Wilson in support for another spectacular score.

Copsey deservedly got his hat-trick with the last move of the match.

Again the pack, led superbly all day by Mark Cornwell and Rob James, set up the position and the backs applied the finish, Merivale sending Copsey in at the corner for Roberts to round off a thoroughly satisfying performance with the touchline conversion.

CINDERFORD: D. Trigg, V. Lanciano, T. Wilson, D. Scourfield, J. Copsey, T. Roberts, S. Lynn, P. Kennedy, N. Matthews, A. Deacon, M. Cornwell (capt), J. Ciaburro, J. Hooper, C. McNeil, R. James. (Replacements: J. Meadows, M. Wallis, A. Obileye, W. Merivale).

NORTH WALSHAM: A. Thorpe (capt), T. Holt, W. Farrer, W. de Jager, B. Nicoll, C. Caine, C. Swanepoel, J. le Roux, M. McCall, J. Titterington, O. Arnold, M. Howard, J. Hurlock, W. McLintock, J. Kelly. (Replacements: T. Jones, A. Turner, G. Drew, A. Gowan)

Referee: R. Kelly (RFU Appointment)

Star Man: James Copsey