Cinderford 36 Wharfedale 23

Cinderford extended their unbeaten home run over a workmanlike Dale, with the home side’s pace and fluency through the half-backs being the difference.

Wharfedale’s bright opening was rewarded with a neat try by hooker Steve Graham, fed off the side of a ruck, before Mark Davies and Tom Davidson exchanged penalties.

Cinderford turned the match decisively in their favour with three tries before the break. Hooker Tom Bozzard completed a line-out drive near the line, then speedy passing allowed full back Mark Wilcox to put winger Lloyd Stapleton in at the corner.

A fantastic retrieving tackle at the line denied Dan Solomi a try and Wharfedale’s failure to recycle a score proved a major turning point as Cinderford ended the half with a fine try by winger Sam Cavern’s entry into the line to make it 22-8.

A fine finish by winger Simon Horsfall put Wharfedale back in the game but a charged-down clearance by Davies gave the outside half a converted try to put the hosts 29-13 up.

Forward pressure resulted in a yellow card to hooker Woodward and a penalty try for Dale. But they were denied a bonus point when Cinderford sealed matters with an interception try from centre Jack Adams.