CAPTAIN Robbie Stapley was delighted with his side’s young guns as they overcame a belligerent Cinderford side 24-10 for a first National One victory in four games.

Finn Matthews was man-of-the-match on debut, fellow wing Charlie Robson highlighted a superb performance with a try-of-the-season contender and full-back George Makepeace-Cubitt was also brilliant at Old Bath Road.

Joining Robbie in the back row were another try-scorer, Ben Atkins, and Mike Hoyt, the duo also stepping up with terrific displays.

Chuckling at Charlie’s outstanding effort, the skipper said: “It was very good. The back three played with an intensity and electricity, and despite how young they are, also a real maturity which was nice.

“You don’t necessarily expect to see that, but they did so well, Finn out on the wing putting in some tackles, George with his footwork was nice and he didn’t over-do it. Between the three of them, they nailed it.

“In the back row, they were so good. Ben has a great tempo and energy, and Mike’s just growing and growing.

“He’s breaking tackles, he’s got those skilful off-loads – the Fijian in him is coming out – and if we can work off these it’ll make us even better.”

It was scrum-half Ed Hoadley who opened the scoring for Rams, Fraser Honey’s conversion replied to by a Joe Winfield penalty for 7-3 at the break, but Atkins and Robson’s four-minute blitz early in the second half put the hosts in control.

Cinderford battled back, Tom Knight crossing at the back of a maul, but Stevie Bryant stepped off the bench to score a last-play try and a bonus-point which sent Rams back to the top of an increasingly congested upper half of the table.

Robbie continued: “Cinderford are a very physical side, but we knew that and expected it – at times perhaps we could have taken it to them a bit more with the ball and could have tried to move them around, especially with our lightning fast back three, but we stuck it out and came through it well.

“Coming off the back of three losses you have to forget about that and think about the improvements, we were better against Sale and knew we’d done things well, so we took that into the game.

“The worst thing you can do is panic, start blaming each other, bickering and implode – winning or losing the whole time you’ve got to stay positive.

“It’s about where you want to go, making the right decisions and having that direction.”

The captain himself was back to his best with plenty of strong carries and a tremendous defensive effort, and admitted the younger players help keep him the more experienced players, including James Baker who played the full 80 minutes on his 402nd appearance, on their toes.

He explained: “I’m the opposite end to them and trying to keep up, it was nice to see Scuba back in the side and he defends so well along with getting that nice little moment at the end.”

And having paid tribute to his teammates, Robbie also had a word of thanks for another impressive home attendance, ending: “It was nice to have a couple of tries in Clubhouse corner and it was another great crowd. After a couple of losses it would be easy for them to say ‘we can’t be bothered’ but they were here again and long may it continue.”