Boughton aims to kick on after best ever finish

CINDERFORD have achieved their highest ever finish in National 1 and flyhalf Reece Boughton describes finishing fifth as ‘feeling like finishing first’.

Boughton’s side finished with 96 points after yesterday’s season ending 32-32 draw away at Leeds Tykes.

Boughton, 26, said: “It’s been an amazing season for Cinderford and the highest we’ve ever finished in National 1 which is good going. The benchmark for next season is to surpass that and push on and finish higher than fifth.

“We didn’t set any goals at the start of the season. We went six games unbeaten and were in the top three at the start of the year and we didn’t know where it was going to take us. But finishing fifth feels like finishing first as it’s such a successful season for the club.”

Boughton has impressed this season with his laser-eye goal kicking and is the third highest points scorer in the division, with 193.

The former Gloucester Academy 10 says he thrives off the pressure of being the club’s goal kicker.

He added: “It’s always been one of my strengths and one of the main parts of my game. I work on my kicking a lot, and it seems to get stronger and stronger each season.

“It’s something you must keep on top of as if you don’t you can lose it pretty quickly, so it’s something I practice two or three times a week.

“Goal kicking is very important as it could be a fine margin, you could win or lose a game within two points. You can win a game by just kicks at goal and not scoring any tries, so I think it’s massively important.

“I seem to thrive off pressure and enjoy it, the more pressure on me the better I suppose.”

Despite his impressive tally, Boughton ignores the points standings and focuses on his own game and added: “If I did look at the standings it would put more pressure on me to set goals, but I like to just play my own game and if I finish high up in the standings it happens and if it doesn’t it doesn’t.”