SSE National League One: Wharfedale 32 Cinderford 21

WHARFEDALE, who were playing in pink socks to support the Candlelighters charity, have guaranteed themselves a 20th season at level three.

Backing their under-ten player Tom Slater, who is recovering from a rare cancer of the liver, the Dalesmen applied themselves better in a game that both sides were desperate to win.

Superb play from the hosts' backs created havoc in the visiting defence but Cinderford opened with a penalty from James Moffatt before Dan Solomi's offload put James Doherty in for the Greens' first try.

Jamie Guy missed the conversion and did not slot one until the Dalesmen's sixth try after 69 minutes.

Josh Burridge scored their second but Moffatt kept the visitors in touch with another successful penalty, and the pattern was repeated when Adam Howard crashed over for the Greens and another penalty from Moffatt kept Cinderford in touch at 15-9 at the interval.

The Greens backs then started to cut loose, a tremendous return from Taylor Prell and excellent work from Oli Cicognini setting up Lloyd Davies for the bonus-point fourth try.

Home centre Cameron Hudson then broke through and fed Cigognini, who dived in at the corner, but back came Cinderford with a try from hooker Luke Cole.

However, another devastating run from Prell was followed up by Doherty before feeding Solomi for a well-deserved sixth try for Wharfedale.

Cinderford now had their best period, and good support play gave Leo Fielding a score wide to the left.

The visitors from the Forest of Dean now sensed that a bonus point or two, or even a win, was on the cards and attacked with relentless fervour. With Wharfedale reduced to 13 men, the vital score looked on.

Cinderford opted for an attacking scrum in the last minute of the game, but it was Wharfedale who took the ball and kicked it dead to seal victory.