National League One

Coventry 31

CINDERFORD is not a happy hunting ground for Coventry.

They failed to score a single point on either of their two previous visits, and on Saturday conceded 22 points to nil in the final half-hour of a pulsating match.

At half-time there looked no way back for the hosts. However, the sin-binning of former Cinderford lock Danny Wright gave the hosts a numerical advantage that they took full advantage of.

The Foresters went ahead inside two minutes with a try from Rob Winchle, converted by Mark Davies.

Winchle's midfield partnership with Jack Adams is proving one of the major plusses of this fledgling season.

Coventry powered back with some superb mauling, scoring tries through Brett Daynes and Jacques Le Roux, both of which were converted by Cliffie Hodgson.

Cinderford levelled when Jack Adams popped up on the left wing to squeeze in at the corner. Davies knocked over a fine touchline conversion.

Injuries disrupted the flow of the match with Cinderford losing skipper Will Foden to a head injury. Prop Tom Heard also had to leave the field before half-time and there was a further nine minute stoppage following a head injury to Coventry's Nathan Jones.

The visitors finished the first half firmly on top. Hodgson kicked a penalty, then converted a Heath Stevens try for a 24-14 half-time lead.

Straight from the restart Coventry scored again – winger Greg Evans intercepting a pass and racing to the line.

Mark Davies, who had an excellent match in the number 10 shirt, kicked a penalty for the hosts, but the sin-binning of Wright, following an off the ball dust up, was the catalyst for the comeback.

A cross-field kick to the left wing found Stapleton and Winchle both unmarked. They nearly made a hash of it, leaving the ball for each other, but a kind bounce and some enterprising play from Stapleton salvaged the situation. Davies converted.

Some patient build-up created the overlap for Codlin to score his second try of the match. Davies landed another superb conversion.

Coventry were not finished and Lewis Barker was pulled up just short of the home line. Cinderford survived the late onslaught to secure maximum points.

It was a tough day for Coventry.

They arrived late, hampered by traffic on the M5, and their return journey was also disrupted by a serious accident right in front of them.

The club's physio was called upon to help assist the injured.

Cinderford: Mike Wilcox, Nev Codlin, Jack Adams, Rob Winchle, Lloyd Stapleton, Mark Davies, Sam Arnott, James Brooks, Tom Bozzard, Tom Heard (rep Joe Smart 37), Ben West, Dave McKee, Adam Nicholls, Will Foden (capt, rep George Evans 26), Joe Garner. Other reps: Sam Caven, Alex Frame, Nico Woodward.