It had been 7 years since Cinderford made the trip over the Severn Bridge, and this much anticipated match did not disappoint with 12 tries being scored. In glorious sunshine both sides attacked with pace, Cinderford displaying a formidable set piece attack and Clifton attempting line breaks with energy.

The match finished 6 tries each, the difference, conversions, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Gibbons and Kilbane gave Clifton the first quarter lead. Cinderford’s Taylor soon scored the first of his own pair. The teams traded tries from Anderson and Owen from Clifton; Quinlan converting 3. Smith, Southworth, Jerrum and Perry scored for Cinderford; McMahon converting 5. The teams were never more than a score part until the final whistle.

Cinderford, with changes since last season have retained their standard of set plays and used them to punish Clifton in the scrum and at the lineout. Clifton able to bring pace off the bench when needed, were more accurate than their last outing but there’s still room to improve:

Clifton’s Head Coach Luke Cozens commented, “we can be our own worst enemy, the penalty count is too high and if we haven’t got the ball, we can’t win.”

Story: Wyn Tingley
Photo: Ian Clarke (Tom Anderson celebrates his try with Shay Shainsbury, former Clifton player, Cinderford's Dan Broady on the right).