Friendly

Painswick Colts 15 Cirencester Colts 48

WITH a good number of last year's U16s coming through it was a young-looking Cirencester Colts side that made the short journey to Painswick for an early season friendly, writes Richard Moreing.

Despite a number of players out of position and yielding size and weight to their more mature opponents, Cirencester ran in eight tries as worthy 48-15 victors in a highly entertaining game.

Painswick's main pitch has a slight slope and the visitors had the advantage of this first and soon decamped in their hosts' 22.

A mix of handling errors and some determined defence held them out until Sam Scott lost his man and scored.

Cirencester’s forwards gained plenty of possession and off a steady platform Iwan Thomas showed he has both a turn of pace and sleight of hand as he added a brace of tries which he converted as the half closed (0-19).

The hosts looked to make use of the perceived advantage of the slope and straight after the restart scored an unconverted try.

A stung Cirencester replied when Harry Ford finished off some team interplay, then Seb Ellis, who was making yards every time the ball found him, crashed over.

This was followed by a third quick try from a training ground move – Thomas fed Alex Moreing who ran in from distance with Thomas converting.

The hosts did show some inventiveness and stretched the constantly changing visitors to deservedly score a second try.

From the re-start a neck-craning game of kick-and-chase ping pong ended when a chasing Ryan Barnes forced an error and he touched down.

Another set of forward drives worked an opening and Moreing picked up from a ruck before going through a number of tired defenders to score his side’s eighth and final try.

Painswick showing admirable spirit showed good hands and managed to force a score on the final whistle.