Drybrook lose out in Centenary Final – Sunday 4th March 2014

Forest of Dean and District Combination Senior Cup Final at Cinderford

Cinderford United 27pts
Drybrook 5pts

Cinderford United proved to be too strong on the day by outscoring Drybrook by five tries to one to lift the Senior Cup. A mixture of clinical finishing and some superb defending was the key to Cinderford’s victory with the home side’s powerful back row in commanding form.
Ollie Clements just missed out with an early penalty attempt for Drybrook but slow ball meant they were rarely able to threaten the Cinderford line.
The home team lost kicker Tom Law with a broken wrist after just eight minutes, which meant scrum-half Reece Boughton, who is dual registered with Premiership outfit Gloucester, taking on the kicking duties.
Cinderford centre Alan Bryan opened the scoring after 16 minutes when he crashed over in the corner following a quick tap penalty.Mitch Renton then went close for Drybrook but strong Cinderford defence dislodged the ball from his hands on 26 minutes following a series of five-metre scrums.
With 12 minutes of the half remaining Cinderford racked up the pressure and desperate defending near their own line eventually led to Drybrook’s Neil Morgan receiving a yellow card.

Cinderford responded when man of the match No 8 Loti Molitika touched down for a try after exploiting the unprotected blindside of the scrum.
Just before the interval further pressure led to a second try for Hartpury bound Molitika to give
Cinderford United a 15-0 lead at the interval.

Bryan added his second try after the break when he got on the end of a simple move to steal in between two defenders. Drybrook had conceded three tries whilst down to 14 men and there seemed no way back for them. Drybrook’s winger Harry Gooderham then had to leave the field on a stretcher after a high tackle but they showed great spirit to battle on.
Flanker Mitch Bourne stole a Cinderford line out and looked to have scored but referee Thomas indicated a double movement.
Cinderford then swept down field and after a couple of knock- ons near the Drybrook line everyone stopped except winger Jack Richards who touched down for the simplest of tries which Ollie Whiting converted.
Drybrook did not give in and began to see more of the ball as the Cinderford defence began to tire.
With 24 minutes gone lots of pressure eventually led to prop Jun Sing Lee evading two tackles to crash over for his side’s only try.
At the end of the match Drybrook were looking to add to their score and went close on several occasions but a rib injury to Neil Morgan brought

a premature end to the game with 2 minutes still remaining.
This was a hugely frustrating game for Drybrook who could do little right in the eyes of referee Chris Thomas. In hindsight a few more kicks to the corner instead of taking quick tap penalties might have proved more effective but credit must go to this Cinderford side who played extremely well and contained a number of players who would not look out of place in a higher grade of rugby.

DRYBROOK: Kristian Taft, Harry Gooderham, Simon Rugman (Capt), Sam Peaper, Ben Large, Ollie Clements, Tom Treherne, Tom Reed, Ashley Howells, Nick Ovens, Marcus Cowles, Neil Morgan, Danny Price, Mitch Bourne, Mitch Renton.
Replacements; Jun Sing Lee, Mitch Baldwin, Rich Cottrell, Craig Clarke

CINDERFORD UNITED: A. Frame, J. Richards, S. Hanks, A. Bryan, O. Whiting, T. Law, R. Boughton; J. Brooks, M. Davies, J. Smart; T. Farrier, M. Reynolds; W. Hodgetts, M. Brown, L. Molitika.
Replacements: M. Baldwin, R. Charles, J. Shields, L. Littleton.