Club lose their way deep in the Forest (From News Shopper)

Club lose their way deep in the Forest

2:07pm Sunday 21st October 2012 in Sport By Graham Cox

Cinderford 34 v Blackheath 19.

A fine second half display from Cinderford stifled the life out of a disjointed Blackheath performance, enabling the Foresters to emerge comfortable winners.

Despite falling behind in the first period, the hosts responded with 24-points in the final 45 minutes, while at the other end keeping the visitors scoreless, maintaining an unbeaten home record and consigning the Club to a third successive defeat.

Nevertheless, Blackheath have only themselves to blame. They’d looked comfortable, building a nine-point lead, and still held the upper hand at the interval with a 19-15 advantage.

However, whereas before the break they kept play tight, now they kicked possession away, allowing a rejuvenated Cinderford to run back at them with interest; right-wing Nev Codlin in particular linking well with full-back Mike Wilcox from two quickly taken throw-ins.

As the Club defence became stretched, full-back Geoff Griffiths made one try-saving tackle but, as the pressure was maintained, and James Cleverly was despatched to the sin-bin, the Foresters drove Tom Bozzard across for the hooker’s second try on 50 minutes.

Then, moments later, Blackheath attempted their own quick throw but, lacking penetration, the move backfired, and a loose pass saw centre Robbie Winchle sweep up and score the try which, with Mark Davies’ conversion, put the game out of sight, lock Ben West’s late effort nailing the lid firmly shut at the death.

The first period gave no sign of what was to come. After recovering from the setback of an early try from Cinderford scrum-half Sam Arnott, the Club got their line-out functioning to drive open-side Dave Allen across the goal-line twice for a 12-7 lead.

Davies responded with a penalty, but with Cinderford temporarily reduced to 14-men, Jack Walsh found a gap in the defence to send Richard Windsor over to extend the visitors’ advantage.

But soon after Walsh was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-down, giving the Gloucestershire side field position from which to drive Bozzard across for his first try in the 35th minute, and without their scrum-half for ten-minutes, Blackheath lost shape and initiative and never seriously threatened again.

The Club, now in eighth position in SSE National League One, will look to re-ignite their season next weekend as they return to home territory to face Cambridge.

Blackheath against Cambridge is a 3.00 pm kick-off on Saturday 27th October at Rectory Field in Charlton Road, admission is £12 (accompanied U16s free of charge).

Cinderford.

Tries: Arnott, Bozzard 2, Winchle, West.

Conv: Davies 3.

Pens: Davies.

Blackheath.

Tries: Allen 2, Windsor.

Conv: Grove 2.