RUGBY: Returning James Fisher inspires Cirencester to greater heights

CIRENCESTER had played with a renewed attacking flair in their defeat to Spartans the previous week, and with the return of the influential James Fisher they stepped up another level to progress into the RFU Junior Vase semi-final at the expense of Chipping Sodbury.

On a glorious day, Cirencester played with pace and accuracy, stretching the Wiltshire side's defence without gaining the upper hand on the scoreboard early on.

But when they broke the deadlock it was a cracker. Instead of making a predictable clearing kick from a scrum, the ball was spread along the back line, and former Ciren Colts winger Tom Woodward broke the line and left a trail of defenders in his wake to score, much to the delight of The Whiteway faithful.

Sodbury’s big forwards started to make gains and the resulting pressure enabled the away side to take the lead with two well-struck penalties.

Ciren once again stepped up the pace and moved the ball well with some great offloads. The Ciren forwards also made inroads into Sodbury territory and the impressive Alex Hammond showed great handling to put the Ciren cyclone Sam Griffiths over in the corner for another great try.

The home side were now growing in confidence. Darren Stephens made a great break up the middle and from a resulting ruck near to the away sideline, blindside flanker Ryan Brookes was on hand to score. Iwan Thomas made his first successful kick to take the score to 17-6.

The second half started as the first ended with great handling again from Hammond, who fed the powerful Fisher and his inside pass was taken by willing scrum half Adam Harrison before scoring under the posts. This time it was Fisher who kicked the conversion to make the score 24-6.

Sodbury hit back once again through their big forwards, as the Red & Blacks struggled to contain them. A converted Sodbury try took it to 24-13.

Ciren kept the scoreboard ticking over with another penalty kick from Fisher and the under pressure Sodbury side infringed once more which let the hosts move clear 30-13.

To their credit the visitors never gave up and gained a deserved converted try.

But it was Cirencester who completed the scoring with another Fisher penalty taking the final score to 33-20.

Can Ciren take this improved form into their next league game? With Fisher back and on song and the young half back partnership of Thomas and Harrison developing fast, it looks promising.

Meanwhile returning props Stephens and Neil Bunce continued to provide a solid platform for the forwards.

Cirencester's 2nd XV travelled to play Old Richians 2s in the Wadworths 6X Reserve League and took a nailbiting away win 33-31.

Ciren established an early lead only to see the Richians fight back, but the Cotswold side managed to keep their heads and sneak the win.

This weekend it’s a double header at The Whiteway. The 1st XV welcome St Mary’s Old Boys in the league and the 2s play Old Patesians 3rds (kick-off 3pm).

A pre-match luncheon for club members, VPs and sponsors backed by the Claudine Gourlay Dental Practice, will start the rugby day in style. Please contact Cathryn on sponsorship@crfc.co.uk to book your seat.