National League One

Rosslyn Park 26

CINDERFORD never recovered from a nightmare start that saw them concede 19 points inside 13 minutes.

The visitors could not get their hands on the ball as Rosslyn Park raced ahead with a penalty-try (following a deliberate knock-on) and two scores from winger Steve Parsons.

Ross Laidlaw kicked two conversions to give his side a commanding advantage before Cinderford knew what had really hit them.

Cinderford clawed their way back into the game when Park's Howard Quigley was yellow carded.

Number eight George Evans was bundled over for a 32nd minute try as the visitors raised the tempo.

Five minutes later, winger Nevaro Codlin broke through Park's defence to leave Mark Davies a simple conversion.

The home side looked rattled and panicked in defence – allowing Luke Carter to stroll through on the outside on the stroke of half-time. Davies missed the conversion, but Cinderford now only trailed 19-17.

Frustratingly, Cinderford again started slowly in the second-half.

Codlin was yellow carded following a mass brawl at a line-out and Park hooker Apo Tauialo made them pay by touching down, with Laidlaw converting.

The visitors again upped their game and pounded away at the Park line for the remainder of the match.

The forwards led the charge as the hosts were forced to shuffle their front-row around because of injuries.

They also had Nick Huggett and Laidlaw sin-binned.

Cinderford won countless penalties and it was no surprise when they were awarded a penalty-try as the 13 Park men struggled to hang on. Danny Trigg converted to cut the deficit to two points.

It was anyone's game, but the Londoners rose to the situation – aided by having 15 men on the field – to keep the Foresters at bay in a tense finale.

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

CINDERFORD United came good in the final quarter to clinch a 25-17 win over Loughborough Development XV.

The referee called for uncontested scrums early in the match and this undermined Cinderford's superiority at the scrum.

Alex Hughes, Nicky Gait, Steve Price and Chris Knight scored Cinderford's tries with Chris Anderson kicking a conversion and a penalty.

Adam Nicholls made a welcome return and had an excellent match, while Gait was the pick of the United backs.