Cinderford’s unbeaten run halted in hard-fought battle
Cinderford’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end on Saturday, as Hornets claimed a 33–24 victory in a game that swung dramatically between two very different halves.
The home side dominated the opening 40 minutes, taking full advantage of a sluggish Cinderford performance. Tries from James Murray, Kieran Ward, and Connor Vickery – all converted by Jack Gapper – gave Hornets a commanding 21–0 lead at the break.
After half-time, however, it was a different story. Cinderford came out firing, with Sam Smith racing over from halfway to open the visitors’ account, converted by Luke McMahon. Momentum began to shift, and when Nathan Taylorcrossed for his first try, again converted, Cinderford were suddenly right back in the contest.
Hornets responded through Murray’s second score, but Taylor quickly struck again for his brace, narrowing the gap to 26–19 with just under 20 minutes to play. The fightback looked on when replacement scrum-half Grady Alford added Cinderford’s fourth try to leave the game on a knife edge.
But discipline proved costly in the closing stages. A series of penalties gave Hornets the platform they needed, and Alex Hawkins powered over for the decisive score, converted by Gapper, to seal the win and end Cinderford’s unbeaten run.
Despite the defeat, Cinderford can take heart from their spirited second-half revival, showing the fight and attacking intent that will be crucial as the season continues.
Picture credited to Front Row Sports Photography