National League One

London Scottish 25

IF rugby was played over 90 minutes rather than 80, Cinderford might well have got more than a losing bonus point against the league's pre-season favourites.

Trailing 22-3 and seemingly out of the game, the hosts produced a tremendous final 25 minutes to finally silence the lone, kilted bagpiper, who huffed and puffed like the Cinderford pack for much of the game.

The introduction of impact subs Luke Carter, Luke Langham and James Brooks breathed new life into Cinderford and they scored two fine tries in their spirited fight back.

However, a James Brown penalty gave the Scots just enough breathing space when they really needed it.

Cinderford played with lots of heart throughout and looked much better organised defensively.

However, they conceded tries within a couple of minutes of both the start and restart, which meant they were always chasing the game.

Key refereeing decisions also went against them, as the officials allowed the Scots to live on the edge of both the offside and breakdown laws.

Some spectators still hadn't taken their seats when Lewis Calder was driven over from a line-out close to the Cinderford line just two minutes into the match.

It got worse for the hosts when the powerful Scots pack drove Alex Page over for a second unconverted try.

Cinderford responded with a good spell of pressure and spent 15 minutes in the shadow of the visitors' posts.

All they had to show for their efforts was a lone Mark Davies penalty.

Davies – called up at short notice following Mark Woodrow's sudden departure to Birmingham – had an assured game under pressure and his kicking and decision-making were particularly good.

Needing to strike first after the break, sleepy Cinderford could not stop Tom Standfield from breaking through just two minutes into the second-half. Alex Clarke then secured the bonus point with his side's fourth try.

To their credit, Andy Deacon's men never folded.

The pack suddenly came to life, inspired by Brooks and livewire scrum-half Carter, and a good spell of possession and patience was rewarded when Sam Wilkes was driven over from a line-out. Mark Davies hit the post with the conversion.

Playing with new conviction, more good work from the pack and an excellent pass from Danny Trigg in the line released winger Matt Betty for a try in the corner. The conversion from Davies cut the deficit to 22-15.

Scots settled their nerves with that crucial Brown penalty, but Cinderford closed the gap further with a last-gasp try from Davies, who leapt over a pile of bodies to get to the line.

Davies also knocked over the conversion, but the clock and Lady Luck were against Cinderford.

Cinderford: Danny Trigg, Matt Betty, Tom Edwards, Paul Boston, Kyle Palm, Mark Davies, Sam Brown, Paul Price (capt), Sam Wilkes, Ed King, Chris Jones, Dave McKee, Luke Allen, George Evans. Reps: James Brooks, Luke Langham, Luke Carter, Chris Hall, Nevaro Codlin.