Wharfedale 37 Cinderford 17: Bedworth finally gets on target

But it had not looked so good for Bedworth and Wharfedale at half-time. The Greens' stand-off and goalkicker had failed with three shots at goal, and had to watch as Cinderford full-back Brett Turner made the job look easy with four confident penalties to earn the visitors a 12-10 interval lead.

Bedworth had, however, grabbed one of Wharfedale's two first-half tries, having addedgto Latu Maka'afi's fourth-minute score, the flanker's opening created by full-back Andy Hodgson, whose scything run split the defence.

Turner opened the scoring in the second minute, with his other successes coming on six, 24 and 39 minutes – the last from a penalty awarded against the yellow-carded Maka'afi.

Being a man short seemed to galvanise the Dalesmen, and they surged forward after the break. Two penalties within five minutes of the restart must have settled Bedworth's kicking nerves, for he added a third (58) from the halfway line and another on 65 minutes to open a 22-12 advantage.

The Foresters stormed back with a crashing try in the corner by lock Dan Wright. Turner's conversion rebounded off the post.

The Greens, though, had the match won at 30-17 after a 40m drop-goal by Bedworth was followed by substitute back Luke Gray being sent in down the right by centre Chris Malherbe.

Cinderford pressed but Bedworth intercepted a wild pass to race in from distance and convert.