Cirencester RFC 17-14 Old Colstonians RFC.

CIRENCESTER staged a monumental second-half fightback to peg back a 14-0 half-time deficit to post a 17-14 victory over Old Colstonians.

With Andy Deacon's in-form team looking for a hat-trick of victories, against Colstonians side who themselves were in good form. The Bristol club started with the wind on their backs, dominating possession, playing with a pace and power, quickly going into a 0-7 lead, gaining ground through Ciren`s midfield and with some secure hands finishing off a well taken try.

They soon backed their first try up with another well worded try, keeping possession well stretching their led to 0-14. It what was always going to be a low scoring game, the lead was a significant one. As the half-time whistle went the Ciren coaching team knew their team would need to be significantly better to gain the all-important victory.

Whatever was said at half-time had the desired effect, as the home side sprang into action, with dominant forward runners, the half-back pairing of Tom Woodward and Mike Howell started to pepper the away sides back-three, back up with an energetic kick chase.

The renewed determination in the Ciren ranks was rewarded with an excellent try by the talismanic number eight Andrew Field who crashed over for the home sides opening try, with Howell adding the conversion.

With their tails up Ciren were now in control of the game pinning the Bristol side in their own half. The clock was ticking though, Ciren needed to score and quickly, with some neat handling' which included the emerging Gareth Owen, it was returning from long term injury winger Dan Halpin who was the beneficiary out wide to race over to score, with Howell was more converting.

With the scores level the game entered the final quarter, the home side were now piling on the pressure eager to get in front, it came from the Howell boot, who kicked the decisive penalty.

In the ever diminishing light, Colstonians mustered one last foray into Ciren`s half, but with some solid defence they could not cross the line. As the final whistle went there was great satisfaction that Ciren hard work had paid off gaining a deserved win.