National League One
Cinderford 39
Otley 19
CINDERFORD took a major step to ensuring their National League One survival with this sparkling win at Dockham Road.
It was no more than they deserved for some excellent second half rugby.
Otley, fighting for their lives near the foot of the table, certainly made things extremely tough for the hosts and led 19-18 until 10 minutes from the end.
Cinderford came out of the changing rooms firing – Ed King bursting through several tackles to make 30 yards in the first minute.
Despite banging away at the Otley line Cinderford struggled to break through and all they had to show for 10 minutes of good work was a Danny Trigg penalty.
Otley grew into the game, largely through the endeavour of their forwards.
Midway through the first half, after retaining the ball for a long spell, number eight Robert Afoa-Peterson was driven over for a try, which Ben Hough converted.
Cinderford wasted scoring chances – with Danny Trigg missing a relatively straightforward kick close to the posts. He made amends on the half-hour mark by landing a much more difficult effort after Blades crashed into the side of a ruck.
Cinderford ended the first half all over the Otley line, but the visitors whooped with joy when they heard the half-time whistle.
Trigg, clearly struggling with his kicking game, missed another penalty five minutes into the second half. That didn't stop the home side from regaining the lead with their second try on 51 minutes – George Evans bursting over after some great work from the forwards.
The Foresters were probably still celebrating when James Twomey caught them napping by finishing off a long range counter-attack.
The game came to life in the final quarter as Cinderford's backs finally got the space to show off their talents. Some tremendous passing and handling stretched Otley's defence on both sides of the pitch, allowing Danny Trigg to join the line and burst through two defenders for a 54th minute touchdown.
Back came the visitors though, with a converted Harry Hannon try putting them 19-18 in front.
Cinderford saved their best rugby for the final 10 minutes.
Dave Knight may not be a natural fly-half – and he never looked to kick the ball once – but there are few better runners with ball in hand in the home team camp.
He provided the likes of Codlin, Boston and Winchle with a great attacking platform by breezing through would-be tacklers like they were not there.
He set up man of the match Adam Nicholls for a simple run-in, converted by Trigg.
The next try was even better – Codlin, Trigg and Whinchle carving the visitors open down the right flank with some intricate passing and movement. Winchle flashed over to finish the move off.
In stoppage time, Boston popped up a pass out of a tackle and Winchle was there to support again, going over the line at pace.
Trigg kicked a good conversion to finish the day on a high.
Cinderford: Danny Trigg, Nev Codlin, Rob Winchle, Dewi Scourfield, Paul Boston, Dave Knight, Luke Carter, Paul Price, Chris Hall (capt), Steve Price, Ed King, Dave McKee, Luke Allen, Adam Nicholls, George Evans. Reps: Sam Wilkes, Chris Bundy, Chris Jones, Lloyd Stapleton, Matt Betty.