| MATCH REPORTs BEES (h) 19 - 20 cinderford |
| Saturday 29th August 2009 |
A resilient Cinderford scooped fifteen unanswered points to grab victory with the last kick of the game this afternoon, despite lively second half contributions from Sam Brown and Rob Connolly in particular.
The forwards measured performance would have been some comfort to a frustrated Russell Earnshaw but it was the lack of phases that really cost them; lacking their normal patience and continuity there was a little too much 'free-flowing rugby' on display too much of the time.
A number of penalties and cheap errors, from both sides, littered the opening quarter of the game and whilst Cinderford had a drop goal attempt that sailed just wide it was the Bees that had the better of the first half. That said it was the Gloucestermen who took the lead when on twenty-one minutes their pack and an unsighted forward burrowed over from short (0-5).
Bees responded immediately however when Craig Voisey - eagerly putting himself about - pinched a loose ruck ball and strode clear. Centre Will Lawson accelerated onto the prop's accurate pass with a similarly sweet inside ball the difference for fly-half Mark Woodrow to dot down beneath the uprights. Successfully converted Bees turned around 7-5 to the good with a definite spring in their step.
Just before half-time Ryan Tomlinson pushed his side further forward with a nice finish to fullback Mitch Culpin's mid-field break. Six minutes into the second half he repeated the feat this time courtesy of Woodrow's tailored pass. Expertly converted and with thirty or so minutes remaining Bees' lead was fourteen points and with a raft of powerful substitutes entering the fray it looked like it might get worse before it got better for Cinderford.
Making assumptions however often makes a mockery of things and when (three minutes later) Bees' visitors had responded it seemed that this might end up being the case (19-10) but deadlock then ensued! for the best part of twenty minutes! and whist former Redruth captain PJ Gidlow along with Connolly took some time out to enjoy themselves with some bone-jarring tackles Bees were left looking dejected as the final touch and timing continued to elude them.
With ten minutes to go the scoreline was still comfortable and the win attainable, but ten points in five minutes was enough for Cinderford to leave Sharmans Cross Road happy when an interception (ran in from 60m) and last minute penalty earned them their spoils.
To see Bees versus Cinderford match photography click here.
END