Cinderford were beaten at Heywood Road by a Sale team who kept themselves in with a chance taking the National One title.
The first half of the match proved to be a very combative affair with the home team on top territorially but unable to breach a terrific defensive display from their opponents until virtually the last play when full-back Joe Carpenter made the initial break on the half-way line and was on hand to score an unconverted try in the corner.
The match really opened up after the interval however and it was the visitors who struck first when scrum-half Mike Austin broke away down the touchline from a scrum and raced clear to score a try which Reece Boughton converted. Sale soon responded though and James Robins landed a penalty before converting a well taken try by experienced outside-half Chris Johnson to make it 15-7 after 48 minutes. Home flanker Jordan Tebbatt extended his team’s lead with a try on the hour, which Robins converted, but Boughton kicked a penalty soon afterwards to keep the Forest side in contention. The home side scored their bonus point try on 66 minutes when winger Neville Edwards completed a flowing move with Robins again adding the extras.
As the match went into it’s final ten minutes Cinderford gave themselves hope of a comeback when replacement Mat Gilbert scored a try, which Boughton converted. However, Robins landed his second penalty and the hosts comfortably saw out the remainder of the match to complete their victory.
Cinderford; Mike Wilcox, Will Baldwin, Jamie Forrester, George Boulton, Will Hendy, Reece Boughton, Mike Austin, George Porter, Sam Baker, Tim Brockett, Tyler Jerrum, Joe Dancer, Aaron Ryan, Jack Shields, Harry Hone (Capt.)
Repls; Joe Smart, Will Haly, Mat Gilbert, Jonny Holliday, Clive Stuart-Smith.