Cinderford 39 Otley 19: Otley’s attempt to avoid relegation suffers new blow with late lapses proving costly

Cinderford took an early lead, full-back Dan Trigg kicking a penalty, but on 22 minutes Otley replied when No 8 Robert Afoa-Peterson went in for a try which was converted by centre Ben Hough and the only addition to the score before half-time was a second penalty from Trigg.

It was proving an even battle but, 11 minutes after the break, the home forwards established a bridgehead and No 8 George Evans forced his way over, Trigg again converting.

Otley hit back immediately, winger James Twomey again showing a clean pair of heels to cross wide out.

This brought Otley to within a point but Trigg, having missed a couple of penalty chances, came up into the line to cross too far out for him to convert but again Otley responded well, re-placement hooker Harry Hannon finishing off good approach work within a minute of joining the fray, Hough adding the conversion.

They held their lead until the 70th minute when the final onslaught saw Cinderford strike with tries from No 7 Adam Nicholls and two from centre Rob Winchle, each converted by Trigg.

Having conceded three tries in the last five minutes to lose by a point at home to Sedgley Park, Otley are now next to bottom.

Wharfedale 10 Launceston 12

WHARFEDALE were consigned to defeat when Tom Davidson’s long-range, last-minute penalty drifted wide.

Had it gone over, it would have been the full-back’s only success from four attempts at goal, but it would have been rough on Launceston.

The All Blacks deserved the victory, having controlled proceedings once they had edged into the lead at the end of the third quarter.

It was all square at the interval, one try apiece – right-winger Richard Bright scoring for Launceston before winger Simon Horsfall received from Davidson to level while All Black centre Palpoi Nonu was in the sin bin.

A breakaway try by Greens centre Andy Hodgson on 52 minutes – his dive requiring confirmation of legality by the touch-judge – was reward for a period of sustained pressure by the home side at the start of the second half.

Hodgson’s try, at a time when Wharfedale were in the ascendancy, looked likely to provide the launch-pad for further scores, but Launceston produced renewed effort.

They fought back with vigour, and within five minutes took the lead for the second time, a pack surge making the chance for lock Ben Hilton to force his way over between the posts.

Centre Ryan Westren’s conversion established a narrow advantage which, helped by the absence of Greens flanker Dan Solomi, who was yellow-carded during the desperate action preceding Hilton’s try, they defended resolutely to the final whistle.