CINDERFORD 36 WHARFEDALE 23
CINDERFORD maintained their unbeaten National One home record with a bonus-point win over Wharfedale at Dockham Road.
After denying Esher a home four-try bonus for the first time this season last week, the Foresters put defeat behind them following tries from Tom Bozzard, Lloyd Stapleton, Sam Caven, Mark Davies and Jack Adams.
Wharfedale took the lead on six minutes when hooker Steve Graham shot over from a ruck inside Cinderford's 22 but full-back Tom Davidson could not convert.
The hosts' fly-half Davies chipped into it with an easy penalty from metres out after good picking and going from his forwards five minutes later.
But Davidson restored the five-point advantage with a kick of his own on 18 minutes before the home side took the lead for the first time on 23.
Full-back Mike Wilcox's mazy run won a penalty which went to touch and a catch and drive lineout saw hooker Bozzard dot down and Davies impressively improve.
That advantage was extended on 27 minutes when a good backs move saw Adams open up a two on one overlap for Wilcox to send winger Stapleton over but Davies missed.
Good defence then held the visitors out on half an hour after openside Dan Solomi was just dragged down and Cinderford were stretched out wide with Robbie Winchle down injured.
But the home side took a healthy 22-8 lead into the break when wing Caven came off the sideline to blast through under the posts and Davies easily slotted the extras.
An unfortunate slip from Caven then allowed Wharfedale wing Simon Horsfall in for their second try on the hour with replacement Lloyd Davies unable to convert leaving them nine adrift.
But Caven made up for it when he hacked on 50 metres from Adams' thunderous hit and at the ruck Davies charged down the clearance to score and convert himself for the bonus.
Cinderford replacement Nico Woodard's first act was a dangerous tackle and he received a yellow card which went to touch before the catch and drive lineout was dragged down for a penalty try.
Davies could not convert but he was successful with a 74th minute penalty but Adams calmed the nerves with an interception try two minutes later with Davies converting.
CINDERFORD: M Wilcox; S Caven (Done, 68), J Adams, R Winchle, L Stapleton; M Davies, A Frame; J Brooks (Green, 60), T Bozzard (Woodward, 68), T Heard; B West (King, 77), D Critchley; L Allen, W Foden (captain), G Evans (Garner, 60). Replacements: L Green, N Woodward, E King, J Garner, K Done.
WHARFEDALE: T Davidson (Davies, 60); J Donkin, M Clark, A Hodgson (captain), S Horsfall; L Gray, J Gough; A Mason, S Graham (Howard, 60), M Tampin; R Brown, R Rhodes; D Barrow, D Solomi, A Allen. Replacements: I Larkin, A Howard, J Tyson, W Bell, L Davies.
↧