Cinderford 14 v Blackheath 17.

A pulsating finale to a game that struggled for life in a strangulated first period.

Blackheath led throughout from the moment a third minute Ryan Squires penalty put them ahead but, as at Blaydon a fortnight earlier, the Club found themselves hanging on to a narrow advantage as time ebbed away.

Nevertheless, win they did and largely thanks to an opening period in which they enjoyed the strong wind at their back, helping them establish a 10-0 lead. The breeze undoubtedly assisted Squires’ early effort across the crossbar from 45-metres, while in return, Foresters’ outside-half James Moffat's strike had the home support starting to cheer until a gust pushed it the wrong side of the uprights.

However, in a scrappy opening period, full of handling errors (cold hands?) and scrum infringements, it was the penalty try on 35 minutes that gave the visitors the bulk of their half-time advantage. Mike Canty had just triggered Blackheath’s best move of the match so far until the ball fell loose in Cinderford territory. But as the pressure was maintained, with the visitors probing around the fringes following clean line-out ball, and the hosts infringed under their posts, the option of the set-scrum saw the Foresters’ pack wheeling for a second time and Italian referee Ellio Rizzo awarding the penalty try.

Perhaps Cinderford had looked to damage limitation in the first half when the elements were against them (they certainly seemed content to let time pass by) but, as they’ve done in the past, the Gloucestershire side came out from the changing room firing.

In what would prove a far better period of rugby, with both sides retaining possession to greater effect, the hosts started effectively and within three minutes of the re-start their pressure had created the overlap for outside-centre Jack Adams to dive over in the left corner, Moffat converting superbly from out wide.

Two further assaults tested the Club’s defence, but Blackheath were also now going through the phases, and as Cinderford repeatedly kicked from defence, enabling Canty, Squires and Ben Summers to run back into opposition territory, the visitors kept possession through numerous phases until, on the hour, space emerged for Markus Burcham to cross the try-line, capping a great performance from the outside-centre and re-establishing a ten-point advantage.

But if in open play Blackheath had gained a marginal edge, the Forester's pack were now dominant at the set-scrum, and as the Club pack were dismantled beneath their own posts, it was Cinderford’s turn to celebrate a penalty try, bringing the hosts back to within a score.

Seven minutes remained, but as they’d done in the north-east two weeks ago, Blackheath hung on to maintain a winning run now stretching to six matches.

Next Saturday Blackheath take on Richmond at Rectory Field in a repeat of the oldest continuously played fixture in world rugby. Kick-off is 3.00 pm.

Cinderford.

Tries: Adams, Penalty try.

Conv: Moffat 2.

Blackheath Tries: Penalty try, Burcham.

Conv: Squires 2.

Pens: Squires.