Barnes come from behind with a late penalty kick to win

Barnes had line-outs stolen early on; Cinderford well-defended first quarter attacks into their 22 by the home team. They generally had an advantage in scrums. Before the half hour a break by Barnes' fly-half led to a penalty try. After that the visitors seemed to increase in confidence and scored two tries to lead 7 - 18 at the break. The second half was uneventful until Barnes scored from a kick charged down then went ahead from a great attack. Cinderford soon got the lead back with a very good try at the posts then an unconverted try from a second excellent Barnes' attack and a penalty won the game.

The home team secured Cinderford's kick-off and recycled close twice before being awarded the first penalty that they ran from 26 metres from their goal line. Seven phases with 2 breaks after the first advance took them to the second penalty 15 metres from the opposition line. They then kicked for a line-out 9 metres out; this was not secured and the ball went into touch of an opposition player 7 metres back. Cinderford stole the second line-out and cleared to touch at their 10 metre line.

Again the line-out was stolen and the visitors kicked over well to the 22 and Barnes cleared to 29 metres out. Cinderford's pack set up a drive from their line-out and advanced to 16 metres out then recycled close twice before going wider and dropping the ball. Barnes got the ball away from their scrum, 11 metres out, under pressure and cleared to touch 15 metres from halfway. Cinderford were penalised when unlawfully setting up a drive from the line-out. Barnes kicked for a line-out 7 metres past halfway then their line-out was stolen for the third time.

The visitors went wide then their kick went into touch off an opponent a few metres ahead. An error in their line-out gave Barnes a scrum at the same place. From that they set up a very good attack soon going wide then wide again after 4 close recycles. Cinderford got to the ball first after a chip to the line the got the ball back from their 22 drop-out and broke out to the other half. Barnes won a turnover and used an up-and-under; the visitors got the ball and soon chipped to touch. Barnes threw a quick line-out at their 22 and got a penalty 5 metres ahead which they ran. The visitors forced an error to get a scrum 5 metres into the opposition half then their pack kept the ball in and forced Barnes back. This resulted in a penalty 4 metres ahead in centre field and was kicked for the points at 16 minutes.

Cinderford secured the high restart. After kicks were exchanged they kept the ball for 4 phases before there were 3 more kicks. Barnes ran back with a nice attack through the hands from 12 to 11 to 10 before kicking to the line. The visitors saved for a 22 drop-out; Barnes got the ball then were turned over and penalised soon after 9 metres into the opposition half. A very good kick took Cinderford almost to the other 22 and from the line-out they first kept the ball in then a break off got to 6 metres out. They then went wide but lost possession from a tackle by the opposition fullback. Barnes recycled close 4 times before using an up-and-under. The visitors got the ball but were immediately turned over; Barnes recycled once before passing forward just inside the opposition 22. They were caught offside after the scrum and Cinderford kicked to touch 2 metres from halfway. An error after the line-out gave Barnes a scrum at halfway. From it they went wide and advanced; after one recycle their fly-half ran off getting close to the visitors' line where a high tackle was judged by the Ref. to be worth a penalty try at 25 minutes.

Barnes secured the restart and advanced recycling five times before being turned over, but Cinderford were penalised for that 3 metres into Barnes' half. The kick didn't find touch and Cinderford replied with an up-and-under that resulted in their line-out at the opposition 10 metre line. Now Barnes stole a line-out and advanced with 3 phases before being turned over. Cinderford went wide and a very good break down the wing and an offload got them over at the corner at the half hour. The conversion was unsuccessful but they had the lead back.

The home team regained from their high restart and had the ball for 3 phases before the visitors forced an error to get a scrum 17 metres inside their half. After keeping the ball in their fly-half sent a diagonal chip to the wing that was regained. Their wing ran to line at the corner, less than 4 minutes since the previous try. An excellent conversion followed.

They secured the restart and regained from an up-and-under; after recycling 4 times they kicked long to touch. Barnes threw a quick line-out and advanced with 4 phases before another error was forced resulting in a scrum for Cinderford 13 metres past halfway. From that they progressed keeping the ball close with 6 phases to their penalty 27 metres out near centre field and kicked the points before the halftime whistle. The score then 7 - 18.

The second half restart wasn't secured; Barnes hacked on a loose ball then charged down a clearing kick. This resulted in their penalty 18 metres out; they kicked for a line-out 9 metres out. Tapped ball led to a scrum for the defence 11 metres out. Cinderford used an up-and-under that Barnes got before an error was forced. Soon after their scrum at their 10 metre line the visitors got another a few metres ahead and got a penalty in that. They kicked for a line-out at the opposition 10 metre line. After that and three phases they passed forward 2 metres back. They were penalised in the following scrum and Barnes ran the ball. With two recycles and an offload they broke through from halfway to 10 metres out where they were penalised. Cinderford kicked for a line-out 16 metres from halfway then used an up-and-under. Barnes got the ball but dropped it after recycling once a metre inside their half. At this scrum Barnes got a free-kick and ran; they went wide twice before chipping to the line and beyond. This gave the visitors a scrum back where the ball was kicked from, i.e. 25 metres out. Cinderford soon went wide and kicked for territory. Barnes ran back going wide 3 times before being intercepted. Cinderford recycled once then chipped through; Barnes got the ball and they went wide before being turned over. After 3 phases Barnes won a turnover and kicked long. The visitors got the ball and recycled 3 times then had a kick charged down. Barnes got the ball from that and recycled twice before a run to the corner before 15 minutes. An excellent conversion followed.

Cinderford regained from their restart then got a penalty 16 metres into the half. They kicked for a line-out almost 5 metres out; their pack set for a drive that was held then went down and Barnes got a 5 metre scrum. From it they broke out with their best moves of the match thus far. With 4 recycles mixed among lots of passes they ran to score at the other end 6 minutes after the previous try. The conversion from 2/3rds out was unsuccessful, but Barnes had the lead for the second time, half an hour since the previous time.

Barnes secured the high restart and went wide; an error gave Cinderford a line-out 28 metres out. Their pack started a drive to which Barnes offered no resistance. The visitors then recycled close 5 times then chipped over and regained. They recycled 5 times more mostly close them broke through. There appeared to be some chaos then a Cinderford player ran down the right wing to come into the posts after 25 minutes. The conversion made the score 19 - 25.

The visitors secured the high restart and used an up-and-under; Barnes got the ball then a penalty immediately after, 11 metres from halfway. This was run to get another at halfway and another run got a third 10 metres ahead. A third run soon resulted in loss of possession. Cinderford got the ball and kicked; the home team ran back and put together another great set of phases. Going wide twice then recycling closer 4 times then going wide again they recycled close to the line 6 times then went wide to score at the corner at 31 minutes. The conversion missed leaving the score 24 - 25.

The home team secured the high restart; they recycled to their scrumhalf who attempted at break close to the ruck that earned a penalty plus 10 more metres awarded by the Ref. for chat. This was run to get another penalty 6 metres past halfway in centre field and the fly-half kicked the points for the lead at 34 minutes.

Barnes secured the restart and used a long up-and-under; Cinderford ran back with 3 phases then were penalised near halfway. The kicked for a line-out, not far, to the visitors 10 metre line. An error at that gave the visitors a scrum there; after it they recycled 5 times, 3 times close and twice wider before kicked ahead into touch before the Ref. blew for full time.

Dry, bright, cool, some wind; the pitch, unplayable last week(?), was good.