Gloucester Premier

Berry Hill 42 Cirencester 5

CIRENCESTER came out second best on the scoreboard but shared the spoils in many areas of the game against a strong Berry Hill side.

The visitors’ main failing was an inability to capitalise on the chances they created.

Cirencester started strongly and pounded the Berry Hill 22 but the hosts’ defence proved rock solid.

Conversely, the Cirencester rearguard were slow coming forward allowing Berry Hill to gain territory and set-up attacking moves in the Cirencester 22.

The first of seven tries came from good fortune when the ball shot out of the side of a maul Cirencester were driving and the Berry Hill second row gratefully picked up and beat the defending full back on the blind side for a converted score.

Berry Hill increased the lead after 19 minutes with a penalty in front of the posts and on the half-hour mark they finished another move well to go 15-0 up.

Just before the half-time whistle, powerful running from Berry Hill and more sluggish defence from Cirencester resulted in another try and a 20-0 scoreline at the break.

With a mountain to climb Cirencester started the second period strongly and attacked the Berry Hill 22 with a good blindside move which was only stopped by a deliberate knock-on by a Hill defender who was yellow-carded.

Cirencester continued to press and were finally rewarded with a try from Sam Hill after 51 minutes.

It looked like Cirencester would close the gap still further when there was a ruck close to the Hill line. But the ball squirted out, the Hill winger kicked it straight into the face of the Cirencester scrum half, caught the rebound, and ran the length of the field to score (25-5).

Cirencester then began to lose their shape losing James Renowden, James Fisher and Sam Hill all to serious injuries.

The Hammond brothers, Joe and Alex, were also injured but with no replacements left they stayed on to fight for the cause. Understandably, Berry Hill were able to run in thee more tries.

Cirencester were second best but failing to get the rub of the green and suffering so many injuries did not help.

To a man, though, including the three 17-year-olds, they put in a proud display.

MoM: Alex Hammond for the second week in succession.