Cinderford Match Report

Cinderford Bucks 13 Ross-On-Wye 2nd XV 15

This was a hastily rearranged game as old centralians had to cancel. The bridge pitch still looked in fine condition, well into the season. This was a hard tackling game, with Ross very fired up. The Cinderford defence held out from constant Ross pressure for 25 minutes, but Ross scored the first unconverted try.

From the restart the game became very physical, with Ben Roberts taken off to rest after a head injury, this allowed the referee to speak to both sides, to try to calm things down.

Ross still came forward, but the hard tackling of the Cinderford defence, especially that of Joe Halusak, kept Ross at bay. The one time the defence was breached, the Ross winger ran through and crossed the line, only to drop the ball before touching it down.

Cinderford Bucks 0 Ross-On-Wye 2nd XV 5

The second half started much the same as the first. Cinderford tackling became indifferent, but Daine Bradley, having an excellent game brought the forwards to life and Pete Balaz running through four players to find some width ignited the game. Ben Roberts, who came back on for the second half, found a good kick to touch and from the line out a flowing move from the backs resulted in a Cinderford penalty, which Ben Roberts duly scored.

The game now was very heated and bodies were being put on the line, non-more so than James Morse, who carried on even after a shoulder injury.

Cinderford were now on a roll with some good attacking rugby, which was rewarded by another Ben Roberts penalty. From the kick off Cinderford pressed hard again, Andrew Haze having a lovely run, with Block in support, who popped the ball to Ben Phelps. Joe Halusak joined the move carrying the ball towards the line, popping it to Ben Roberts to cross for the try, which he duly converted.

Ross was now 13-5 down and also down to 14 men, after one of the players verbally abused the ref.

Ross were now galvanised into action and after a Cinderford line out, Ross stole the ball and with a free flowing move scored under the posts. At this point things got out of hand. The fly half missed the kick, the Cinderford players laughed; the ref awarded the kick off to Ross, for ungentlemanly conduct and Ross were also reduced to 13 players. The scrums now became uncontested, which worked in Ross favour. Ross worked their way forward; a desperate defence by Cinderford could not stop them, at which point Cinderford became undisciplined. Eventually the Ross wing broke through from the scrum to score in the dying moments of the game. Cinderford restarted and tried to keep the ball alive but to no avail and with the final whistle Cinderford lost this ill-tempered match 13-15.