Taunton Titans 20 — Cinderford 28
Cinderford scored four tries and produced a determined defensive performance to secure a 28–20 victory away to Taunton Titans.
Andrew Smyth crossed twice, with Tyler Jerrum and Callum McCabe also touching down, while Joe Winfield contributed eight points through two penalties and a conversion.
Winfield gave the visitors the lead with a ninth-minute penalty before Taunton fly-half Tom Putt replied in the 20th minute to level the scores.
Cinderford regained the advantage three minutes later when Jerrum crossed for the opening try. The hosts responded through full-back Freddy Elliott in the 26th minute, with Putt’s conversion putting Taunton 10–8 ahead.
The visitors finished the half strongly. Smyth scored in the 31st minute to restore their lead, before McCabe added another try in the 37th minute to give Cinderford an 18–10 advantage at the interval.
Putt reduced the deficit with a penalty two minutes into the second half, but Winfield replied in the 48th minute to make it 21–13.
Smyth claimed his second try in the 55th minute, with Winfield adding the conversion to extend Cinderford’s lead to 28–13.
Taunton responded on the hour through Putt, who scored and converted to bring his side back within eight points. Those proved to be the final points of the afternoon, with Cinderford’s defence holding firm through the closing stages.
Reflecting on the victory, Clive Stuart-Smith said:
“What an incredible squad effort to beat Taunton at their home ground. They are a very well coached side and we knew we had to deliver an 80 minute performance, full of intensity and accuracy to have a chance at winning.
“It was our best defensive outing of the season, with some stand-out individual performances. We were clinical in attack, even though we had limited chances.
“Next week we face a very powerful Redruth team and they will pose a different type of threat. We will need to be more ruthless with the ball in hand and deliver on our set piece objectives.”
Taunton Titans: Freddy Elliott; Israel Akinrowo, Connor Vickery, Henry Batty, Troy Jackson; Tom Putt, Will Holmes; Ollie Schuster-Wood, Alex Spurdle (captain), James Burgoyne, Jan Davison, Ben Oliphant-Thompson, Jack Gadd, Ollie Aboud, Alfie Johns.
Replacements: Gabe Mead, Charlie Harris, Bertie Fordham, Ben Rogers, Matt Whitlock.
Cinderford: Callum McCabe; Brendan Llewelyn, Kyle Harris, Tom Samak, Sam Smith; Joe Winfield, Halen King; Matt Cotton, Jacob Perkins, Joe Rees, Tyler Jerrum (captain), Reeve Brighty, Will Korb, Andrew Smyth, Jake Polledri.
Replacements: Alex Bosworth, James Elliot, Sam Baker, Louis Douglas, Josh Horrobin.
Scorers
Taunton Titans: Tries — Freddy Elliott, Tom Putt. Conversions — Putt (2). Penalties — Putt (2).
Cinderford: Tries — Tyler Jerrum, Andrew Smyth (2), Callum McCabe. Conversion — Joe Winfield. Penalties — Winfield (2).
Half-time: Taunton Titans 10–18 Cinderford 1st XV
Full-time: Taunton Titans 20-28 Cinderford 1st XV