AFTER a day of rain and thunderstorms on Thursday, conditions changed just in time on Friday for Cinderford to host Newent at the Bell Sports & Rugby Park in a pre-season training game.

The friendly was played as three 20-minute sessions, giving both sides a valuable opportunity to test combinations and get competitive minutes under their belts ahead of the new season.

Cinderford made the brighter start and opened the scoring after five minutes when a scrum close to the Newent try line provided the platform before the ball was worked all the way across the field, where Callum Thompson finished the move to put the hosts 5-0 ahead.

Newent responded well and, on 11 minutes, broke through the Cinderford defence to go over, with the conversion successful to give the visitors a 7-5 advantage.

Cinderford then thought they had struck back right at the end of the opening 20 minutes when they crossed the line, but the score was ruled out for offside.

The visitors started the second session strongly and applied sustained pressure to the Cinderford defence.

And their hard work was rewarded 12 minutes into the second period when they crossed for their second try, extending their advantage to 12-5.

Cinderford responded by taking the game back to their Forest rivals, but some determined defending from the Green Army kept the hosts at bay.

But that resistance was finally broken in the 39th minute when a Cinderford line-out provided the platform for a powerful driving maul, with Andrew Smyth going over to reduce the deficit and make it 10-12 heading into the final session.

Cinderford’s forward power became increasingly influential during the closing 20 minutes.

Five minutes into the final period, another strong driving maul carried Cinderford towards the Newent line, with Will Korb touching down to restore the home side’s lead 15-12.

There was still time for one more score, as another line-out was turned into an effective Cinderford driving maul and Korb emerged with his second try to complete the scoring and secure a 20-12 victory for the hosts.

It was an encouraging workout for both sides, with Newent providing the Foresters with a competitive and determined test.

Cinderford were back in action at the Bell Sports & Rugby Park next day, this time welcoming Hartpury University RFC, where another competitive encounter ended with them recording a 32–21 victory, running in six tries in the process.

Newent 1st XV are due to host Longlevens in another pre-season game this Saturday (September 5), while the Phoenix travel to face Old Cryptians.

The 1st XV then travel to face Bromsgrove in a friendly on Friday evening, September 11, before visiting Old Centralians on Saturday, September 19, in a final warm-up game ahead of launching their Tribute One South West campaign away to Weston-super-Mare on Saturday, September 26.

The Phoenix host Luctonians 3rds on Saturday, September 12, and launch their Counties 4 Tribute Gloucestershire North season at home to Old Cryptians again on September 26.

Meanwhile, Ross RFC are back training for their upcoming campaign in the same division, which begins at home to Old Patesians on Saturday, September 26, and sees the two local teams lock horns at Newent Rec on Saturday, October 24.

Ross are hosting an Open Day this Sunday from 10am, with spaces available in their Mini and Junior teams, no experience necessary.