DIRECTOR of rugby Andy Deacon had turned away in frustration as Cambridge broke clear with a run-in to the corner to level the scores in injury-time.

He therefore missed the match-saving tackle from full-back Mike Wilcox that enabled Cinderford to cling on to their 30-25 advantage.

"I thought it was a try, but Mike just appeared from nowhere to save us," said a relieved Deacon.

"We were not perfect but we did some exceptional things in the match and we scored some fantastic tries.

"Our backs looked very sharp but the scrum fell away and so did our line-out. We were loose in certain departments and it meant we never got away from them."

Dave McKee was drafted in to the starting XV late because Ed King dropped out with a groin injury, then his replacement Dale Critchley turned an ankle in training.

Deacon said: "We've already got 15 injuries which is why we need such a big squad. As well as Ed and Dale, we've got the likes of Stuart Bailey, Danny Trigg, Dewi Scourfield, Chris McNeil and Jack O'Connell to come back into the mix."