Cinderford prove they are deadly in the 22!
Cinderford .......... 41pts Taunton ................ 24pts
CINDERFORD made it 22 wins in a row with a bonus-point victory over Taunton Titans in a highly entertaining encounter that saw nine tries scored.
The home side opened the scoring after just three minutes when a strong run by centre Ed Bogue created the opportunity for winger Reuben Norville to go over for an unconverted try.
Taunton responded with a try from Aron Struminski, which Gary Kingdom converted, before James Moffat put Cinderford back in front with a penalty.
Matt Lane’s offload in the tackle put Bogue away to score the league leaders’ second try, with Moffat landing the conversion, but Taunton quickly hit back when Brett Harvey scored a well taken try, which Kingdom converted.
The home side scored two more tries before the interval, No.8 Harry Hone going over from a lineout catch-and-drive, with Moffat converting and the bonus point was secured when Norville outpaced the cover defence to grab his second.
Kingdom landed a penalty for the visitors on the stroke of half-time to make it 27-17 at the interval.
Taunton came right back into contention early in the second-half when prop James Kenny scored his team’s third try, which Kingdom again converted.
Cinderford gradually regained control however with second-row Dale Lemon forcing his way over from close range, then Hone went over for his second after more good approach play from the home forwards, with Moffat landing both conversions.
Cinderford head coach Paul Morris heaped praise on the opposition: “We overcame a very good side – I thought Taunton were
outstanding today.
“They’re well coached and they played to a game plan that suited them.
“At times they smashed us quite a bit today – I’m delighted that we still managed to score six tries against a side as formidable as them.
“They more than gave us a run for our money – they’re a serious outfit. I have to say that in the last 22 games we’ve not played a side who have played as well as they did.
“I thought they were outstanding and I’ve got a lot of respect for what they came and did.
“On the flip side I’m thoroughly proud of my players for coming through yet another challenge and we’ve done it well.”
Meanwhile, Taunton head coach Tony Yapp was also pleased by his side’s performance: “I was really pleased with how we played, we stuck to our game plan but in the end it was probably the depth of Cinderford’s squad and their organisation that got them over the line.
“We’ve got lots of new guys involved over the last couple of weeks, a lot of fringe players in the mix we’re enjoying giving these guys an opportunity.
“We’re not in a position to go up but we’re obviously safe from going down.”