CINDERFORD director of rugby Andy Deacon says it 'feels like the start of a new season' as he prepares to take his team to Macclesfield this Saturday.

Cinderford have not played a match since their 18-10 defeat at Otley on November 20.

Deacon told The Forester: "Maybe the break can work to our advantage as we were on a losing streak. If we can string a couple of results together, the table will look very different. We are still three games away from the halfway point of the season."

Cinderford have been training regularly throughout the cold snap, using the indoor facilities at St Peter's School in Gloucester.

Deacon has also bolstered his front-row by signing tighthead prop Joe Reid on loan from Birmingham & Solihull. Reid has featured for the Bees in the Championship this season, as well as appearing for the Gloucester A team.

That addition, however, has been tempered by the loss of James Brooks, who will be out for around five weeks with a knee strain.

Dave Knight and Mark Rimmer, who both rejoined the club before Christmas, are likely to be involved at Macclesfield – one of only three teams Cinderford have beaten in the league.

The Foresters won a thrilling spectacle against the National One new boys at Dockham Road on September 18 by 54-36.

Curiously, Macclesfield have won more games away from home this season than they have at Priory Park. They've won four times on their travels, as opposed to three at home.

Deacon said: "Macclesfield are going well in this league and they like to throw the ball about.

"We know we need to keep things tight.

"We've got good competition for places and most of the guys who had injuries are fit again. The only long-term injuries are Chris McNeil and Pete Towers."

The stats of Cinderford's season tell an interesting tale.

Their last win was way back on October 9, a 19-17 success at Wharfedale.

Their other victory was the 33-26 home win against Blaydon on October 2.

Since beating Wharfedale they've lost six on the trot, to Launceston, Blackheath, London Scottish, Rosslyn Park, Redruth and Otley.

Defensively, Cinderford have conceded more points (387) in National One than all other clubs bar Otley.

They've scored 27 tries themselves, 16 at Dockham Road.

The leading points scorer is Mark Woodrow, who left the club in November to rejoin Birmingham & Solihull.

Woodrow kicked 76 points in his short spell at the club, 13 penalties, 17 conversions and one drop-goal.

Nevaro Codlin is the leading try scorer with six. Kyle Palm has touched down four times, with George Evans, Jake Boer and Luke Allen scoring two apiece.