Dancer waltzes in for a vital hat-trick

JOE Dancer grabbed a hat-trick of tries as Cinderford were forced to come from behind in the last ten minutes to win a high-scoring tussle with Bishop’s Stortford.

Cinderford scored nine tries, but were made to work hard for their victory.

A penalty by fullback Tom Walker gave Bishop’s an early lead, but neat feet by Cinderford’s Will Hendy created the opening try for Jamie Forrester.

Stortford hit back with tries by Seb Brownhill and Rory Banks.

The Cinderford pack then got them back into the game and Hendy stepped around the defence to grab the hosts’ second try. However, Bishop’s scrum-half Sam Bryan off-loaded to winger Cole Swannack for a converted try.

Cinderford struck back before half-time with tries from Will

Baldwin and Dancer to trail 29-24.

Matt Lane crossed for the home side early in the second half, but Bishop’s responded with a try by Walker. Joe Mullis went over for Cinderford, but James Apperley did likewise for the visitors.

However, Dancer completed a crucial hat-trick, scoring in the 71st minute and the 75th minute, with Liam Hemming taking his tally to six conversions before adding a penalty.

TEAMS

CINDERFORD: Wilcox, Baldwin, Forrester, Boulton, Hendy, Hemming, Austin, Porter, Taylor, Elliot, Evans, Dancer, Lane, Ryan, Hone

Replacements: Brocket, Preece, Jerrum, Mullis, Stuart-Smith

BISHOP’S STORTFORD: Walker, Swannack, Ayrton, Scantlebury, Smith, Cole, Bryan, Brownhill, Caulfield, McCrone, Charter, Lewis, Apperley, Wrafter, Banks

Replacements: Rayment, Roberts, Etherington, Jones, Powell

REFEREE: Alan Chandrachud

ATTENDANCE: 355

Star man

Will Hendy - Cinderford