Chris Ashwin

National One: Cinderford 39 Barking 18

Barking head coach Tim Usasz felt his side were second best as their relegation from National One was confirmed after a 39-18 defeat at Cinderford on Saturday.

Despite taking a 3-0 lead through the boot of fly-half Chris Ashwin, Barking were out-gunned in the try scoring stakes by five to two.

“We didn’t start at all well and we couldn’t get through our phases early on,” said Usasz.

“We didn’t work hard enough and in the end the score could have been worse.

“It’s been all too often this season where we turn up against the big sides and perform, while we struggle against those in the middle and towards the bottom.

“But Cinderford are the form side in the division, played well and deserved the win.”

Ashwin’s early score was soon cancelled out by Rory Teague’s penalty, and a strong run from Kai Fone set up centre Simeon James to go over for a converted try.

But before the half was out Cinderford, who went into the game having won seven of their last nine matches, increased their lead to 17-6 when flanker Will Foden was driven over.

After the break Teague slotted another penalty in between the posts and then Robbie Winchle crossed the whitewash in a frenetic four-minute spell at the start of the second period which put the hosts 27-6 in front.

Wing Nevaro Codlin inflicted further misery on Usasz’s side when he finished off a good Foresters move with Teague again exemplary with the boot.

Barking dug in and picked up a try for their efforts when scrum-half Tom Parker crossed, but the hosts responded with Luke Carter going over from a five-metre scrum.

The Goresbrook side ended the match with their second try of the afternoon when replacement Jack Gash went over with fellow replacement Craig Ratford kicking the extras.

But injuries to their pack, including a hamstring strain for Sean Mullins led to uncontested scrums for the final 15 minutes.

Barking: Broughton, Nelson, Henderson Dodge, Hihetah, Ashwin, Parker, Ambrose, Bloomberg, Mullins, Burns, Turner, Ngan, Reynolds, Armstrong.

Replacements: McIntyre, Wood, Ratford, Sinfield, Gash.