National League One

Barking 3

AN impressive display of running rugby gave Cinderford their first away win of the season.

Kiwi scrum-half Ben Draper says it's time for the club to start looking up the league table rather than down it.

He said: "We've always felt we could beat anyone in this league and now we're starting to prove it.

"It's a fantastic league, very competitive.

"We are starting to score a few more tries but it's all about knowing when to throw the dice.

"The partnerships are getting better because we are getting to know each other better.

"The communication with the forwards is miles better than it was at the start of the season."

Only a couple of minutes into the match the visitors moved the ball quickly across their back line and centre Simeon James sidestepped past his opposite number. Mike Wilcox drew his man then set Lloyd Stapleton free with a run to the line.

Rory Teague slotted a 10th minute penalty after good work by the Cinderford forwards, who kept the ball alive, off-loaded in the tackle and moved the Barking pack from one side of the pitch to the other.

Barking fly-half Chris Ashwin landed a 13th minute penalty as the hosts rallied, without finding a way through a dogged Cinderford defence.

Cinderford made changes early in the second half, replacing Scourfield, Heard and Allen with Done, Bundy and McNeil.

On the hour mark Kai Done made a 40 yard break which was supported by second-row Ben West. Man of the match West dived over for his first try of the afternoon.

Teague, struggling with the boot, missed the conversion, but Cinderford had their tails up.

Late in the game Teague made a break and off-loaded to West, who crashed over for his second try of the match.

From the restart James gathered the ball and split the Barking defence in half.

Rob Winchle collected a back-of-the-hand pass to rush in for the bonus point try, which Teague converted.

Ben Draper added: "I thought Barking were dangerous with ball in hand but they panicked a bit when we turned them over.

"We had to be patient because at times in the first half we had very little ball."

Cinderford: Mike Wilcox, Lloyd Stapleton, Simeon James, Dewi Scourfield (Kai Done 40), Rob Winchle, Rory Teague, Ben Draper, Joe Smart (Lee Fortey 67), Tom Bozzard, Tom Heard (Chris Bundy 47), Ben West (Dave McKee 79), Ed King, Luke Allen (Chris McNeil 49), Will Foden, Adam Nicholls (capt).