A visit to ‘The Rock’, the home of Rosslyn Park, is always hugely challenging and Cinderford’s opening National One match of the season once again went the way of the home team, despite a determined effort from the Foresters. The visitors did however have the consolation of a try-scoring bonus point and at 34-26 down with five minutes remaining were pressing hard to get even more from the game, but the home team were able to breakout and score two further tries to put some ‘gloss’ on the final score line.
Park started the game well, but Cinderford defended well and soon began to make some headway which eventually led to them opening the scoring with a well-taken try in the corner from George Boulton.
The home side quickly responded with a converted try and then a loose pass ‘gifted’ them a second to make it 14-5 after 26 minutes. A third try followed for Park and as half-time approached Cinderford needed a score to get them back into the match and it came when Reece Boughton put Aaron Ryan through to score a try, with Boughton adding the extras.
The second half got underway with Craig Holland landing a penalty for Park, before he raced through a huge gap in the visitor’s defence to score a try, which he also converted to make it 31-12.
Back came the Forest side though and some terrific handling out wide created a try for Tim Andrew, which Boughton converted. Holland landed his second penalty, before Cinderford got themselves right back in the contest when they were awarded a penalty try by the referee for a deliberate knock-on.
It was all to play for going into the final quarter, but despite some close calls the visitors were unable to add to their score and the home side ensured their victory with those two late tries.
Cinderford; George Gladding, Will Hendy, Will Baldwin, George Boulton, Tim Andrew, Reece Boughton, Mike Austin, George Porter, Nathan Taylor, Shaun Knight, Tyler Jerrum, Jonny Holliday, Matt Lane, Aaron Ryan, Harry Hone (C).
Replacements; Tim Brockett, Joe Smart, Joe Mullis, Dan Hodge, Clive Stuart-Smith.