Round 18 - Plymouth Albion V Cinderford


By Cider Drinker
February 15 2024

Cinderford by the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, was an early crossing point of a ford and then later as the site of early ironmaking leaving deposits of cinders.  Cinderford RFC were formed in 1886 and are known as ‘the pride of the Forest’.           .

 They travel the 155 miles down to Brickfields, a 3 hour trip carrying their club colours of Red, Black and Amber hoops with a change strip of Green and blue stripes, although not sure of the difference between hoops and stripes, as they both look stripy to me.  Looks like Cinderford will play in their club colours for this game as no clash of colours expected.

Albion last played Cinderford on 14th October, away, Cinderford winning by 20 to 12.  Since then there have been run away wins, close wins and many losses for Cinderford leaving them sitting 3rd from the bottom of the table.  Don’t let that fool you Cinderford can turn it around on the day, although last week they lost at home 18 to 30 to Blackheath. 

Biggest loss         Cinderford  0 v Chinnor 57

                          Sale FC  31 v Plymouth Albion 3

Closest loss         Darlington Mowden Park 25  v Cinderford 20

                          Rams 22 v Plymouth Albion 20

Closest Win        Cinderford  24 v Darlington Mowden Park 23

                         Plymouth Albion 19 v Birmingham Moseley 18

Biggest win         Richmond 7 v Cinderford 24

                          Plymouth Albion 36 v Sale FC 26

There are no team sheets up at the moment for either side.  Cinderford have 2 of our former players, George Porter and Jimmy Williams hopefully both will make the trip to Brickfields so that we can welcome them back.  If you get to the ground early then you will be able to see the Plymouth Albion’s Colts side against Wellington U18s, kick off 13:00. 

Weather is forecast as rain, rain and possibly more rain, with a south-southwesterly wind at 14 knots, should be less of a kicking game and more of which team will be less muddy than the other

Prediction, no crystal balls here – should be an easy win for Albion however, with the wet and the wind Cinderford could get close, will need to shout loudly for ALBI ALBI ALBI.