A DETERMINED second half display came too late to save the Saxons as they slipped to a sixth straight defeat.

Tries from flanker Tom Leach and flying winger Jamie Hearn edged them to within seven points of their visitors but the well-drilled Forest of Dean side kept their line in tact despite having two players in the sin bin for the closing stages.

A brace of early Rory Teague penalties handed Cinderford a platform and they then bagged the game’s opening try when back row George Evans picked up from the base of a scrum to twist his way over the line.

Trailing 11-0, the Saxons challenge began with a snaking run from Hearn before the winger lost his footing after leaving two players sprawled on the floor.

Nathan Bressington managed to squeeze over in the corner after a rolling maul on the opposite flank, Matt Williams timing his pass to the powerhouse winger to perfection.

But this was instantly cancelled out when the visitors were awarded a penalty try, Teague slotting over the extras.

Hearn kicked a 40th minute penalty for Saxons but there was to be another twist with the final move of the half when a huge hit from Sam Wilkes on Stourbridge hooker Liam Wordley saw the ball fly loose and Cinderford centre Simeon James gathered to run 40 metres to the line.

Teague’s conversion stretched the lead to 17 points and that proved too much for Mitchell’s men despite a determined second half performance that saw them run in two unanswered tries.

Flanker Tom Leach was driven over for the first of these on 47 minutes, the Saxons pack finally getting the better of their visitors.

Wave after wave of pressure kept the Foresters pinned in their own ‘22’ but without a cutting edge, the home side were unable to break through a well-drilled defence.

The impressive Hearn finished off a sweet backs move by scampering 40 metres to the line midway through the half but that was as close as Stourbridge were to get.

Yellow cards for Cinderford pair Rob Winchle and Tom Heard should have been enough to allow the Saxons in but there was still no way through.

Saxons: Williams, Bressington, Jarvis, Reakes, Hearn, Robinson (Rovira 41), Frost (Richardson 65); Sturdy (Hill 39), Wordley (Page 58), Lawrence, Hughes, Hurrell, Garner, Leach, Rovira. Rep (not used): Baker.

Cinderford: Wilcox, Codlin (Carter 57 (Trigg 65)), Winchle, James, Stapleton, Teague, Pointin; Thomas, Wilkes, Heard, West, King, Nicholls (Allen 69 (Smart 74)), Foden, Evans. Rep (not used): Bozzard.