CIRENCESTER U14s set the tone within three minutes when full back Tom Bird picked the ball up deep in his own half and ran through four or five tackles to score out wide.

County Cup Quarter Final

Cirencester U14s 36

Cheltenham U14s 22

Cheltenham then camped in the Ciren 22 for what seemed an age, only good tackles keeping them out, but eventually a defensive kick was charged down by the No.8 who crashed over the line to level the scores (5-5).

The rest of the half was played at a ferocious pace with both sides having chances to score only for the defences to come out on top.

However, with the half coming to a close Cirencester scored two quick tries through Ollie Adkins and Bird; one was converted to make the interval score 17-5.

Keen to get back into the match, Cheltenham put pressure on the Cirencester backs who eventually knocked on and from the advantage they scored out wide to cut the gap to seven points.

Cheltenham now had the bit between their teeth and from a turnover at a ruck spread the ball wide for the winger to score under the posts; this was converted to level the scores at 17-17 with 12 minutes to go.

Cirencester made a couple of replacements and the fresh legs paid dividends as Benjamin Janus made a break and a neat offload found Adkins who went over in the corner (22-17).

Straight from the restart Ryan Brookes went on a run and he offloaded to the supporting Joe Whelan who scored his first try for the club (29-17).

Cheltenham had not given and up and with five minutes left they scored a try to reduce the deficit to one score (29-22).

With both sides looking tired on a hot morning and with three minutes to go Cirencester scored the try that sealed victory as from a poor defensive kick Tom Bailey caught the ball 25 metres out and fended off a couple of tackles to cross under the posts; the conversion took the score to 36-22.