This coming Saturday 21st November sees Coventry Rugby visit the Beavis Memorial Ground, Dockham Road, as they face Cinderford for a 3pm kick off.
Founded in 1886, the Foresters as they are known have found the last 3 seasons somewhat of a struggle, finishing 11th 2 seasons ago, and 13th last season, only surviving relegation by dint of an administrative error by Old Albanians. Currently they lie in 15th spot with just 13 match points and 2 wins and 8 losses. Director of Professional Rugby and Coach Nic Corrigan has had something of a torrid time since appointed last season, Premiership side Gloucester Rugby appear to have switched most of their dual registered Academy players to their local rivals Hartpury College.
New links have been forged with the University of Gloucestershire and their Oxtalls Campus, as well as the Gloucs Old Golds RL side, and closer links with the Bristol Rugby Academy. Following their narrow squeak in avoiding relegation last season a number of players have left including fly-half Mark Davies and centre Jack Adams both to Chinnor. Winger Nev Codlin well known to Coventry supporters also went initially to Chinnor, but is believed to be back in the fold.
Last season games between Coventry and Cinderford were close affairs, with Coventry winning the away fixture 15-11 and the home one 32-22 after allowing Cinderford back in the game.
This season Cinderford have only had 2 wins, an away win at Wharfedale by 33-27 and their only home win over Hull Ionians 32.19. Although having lost 4 home games they have played marginally better at home than away.
A higher than normal turnover in players has seen 18 new arrivals including fly-half Ben Penfold from Cambridge, a trio of Bristol Rugby DR loan players centre Lukas Slowik, prop forward Jack O’Connell and fly-half Callum Sheedy. Former Coventry player hooker Dave McGregor has arrived from Plymouth Albion, and Portugal U 20’s prop Bruno Francisco, centre Gary Dipple from Stourbridge and winger Alex Pickersgill. The forwards have been boosted by locks Jerry Sexton and Will Scholes, prop Will Goodrick-Clarke and flanker Sid Blackmore. Recently Angus Bowyer has come in at fly-half who is also experienced at goalkicking.
A number of last season’s key players remain such as full-back Mike Willcox, fly-half James Moffatt and centres Sam Hanks and Rob Winchle. Wingers Ollie Whiting and Harrison Yorke have been retained as well as scrum-half Danny Pointon. The pack has also retained locks Milo Reynolds, Jack Shields, Roger Birkin and Matt Lane. The back-row has Marcus Brown, Aaron Ryan and No 8 George Mills captain. Prop forward Sam Baker and hooker Chris Bundy also remain.
Coventry Rugby will be looking to build on their excellent home win over Blaydon last week, which should give them the required confidence to face a visit to the forest, which has not always been a happy hunting ground for them. Cinderford after a couple of false dawns need the win to help them climb out of the danger zone, although suffering a large loss last Saturday at Fylde, they did create enough chances to worry teams.