Despite a strong start by Cinderford, it was Chinnor who found the first score after a loose line out deep in their half by the hosts enabled Fred Tuilagi to kick through for Kieran Goss to gather up and race away for their first try, which James Bourton converted. More pressure from the home side was met with determined defence from their opponents and they had to settle for a penalty from Reece Boughton. Chinnor earned another penalty and kicked into the corner and after a strong maul the ball was recycled with Tuilagi scoring a try for the visitors who despite not having much possession were now leading 14-3 after Bourton converted.
Cinderford again dominated possession but were unable to find a way through as they continued to go to the corner, eventually though they found their try through Jamie Forrester who crashed over from close range, Broughton slotting the conversion with ease to make it 10-14. Cinderford were tearing Chinnor’s scrum apart but despite several penalties they were unable to capitalize and with half-time approaching, a break from halfway by Goss earned the visitor’s entry into the 22 and a show and go by Walsh allowed the space for Oli Curry to crash over leading to their third score which Bourton converted to make it 21-10 to Chinnor at halftime.
After the break, Chinnor enjoyed much more possession and used the kicking game well to earn territory early on, following a lineout in the 22 some nice footwork by fly-half Caolyn Ryan opened up the space out wide for Joshua Hodson to score his team’s bonus point try. Further pressure from Chinnor led to Cinderford captain Harry Hone being sent to the sin-bin, but the Forest team were finally were able to gain some much-needed territory, and eventually found the try line through George Angell after Curry was yellow-carded, Broughton converted making it 26-17 to the visitors. Despite a continuing kicking battle with only 10 minutes left, Cinderford earned another scrum penalty leading to a lineout in the opposition 22. With time running out replacement scrum-half Clive Stuart-Smith bundled over after some great maul work by his forwards making it a two-point game.
The momentum was now clearly with the hosts, but Chinnor’s defence earned a crucial turnover after the restart which led to a break down the middle by Bourton and a cross-field kick found Goss who flicked it inside to Nick Smith for the match-winning score.
Cinderford; Mike Wilcox, Will Baldwin, James Forrester, George Boulton, Ed Sheldon, Reece Boughton, Mike Austin, George Porter, Nathan Taylor, James Elliot, Tyler Jerrum, Mathew Gilbert, Joe Dancer, George Angell, Harry Hone.
Repls; Tim Brockett, Jack Preece, George Evans, Jenson Boughton, Clive Stuart-Smith.