BREAM lifted the Forest of Dean Combination Junior Cup, proving to be too strong for a spirited Cinderford Stags side.

The cup win is a consolation for the side that topped the Gloucestershire Counties Two South table but were denied after losing the play-off to Two North winners Gordon League.

The 50-21 win over Cinderford’s third XV means that Bream retain the Combination’s Junior Cup.

Bream’s full back Jayden Hardy was named man-of-the-match for the second year running.

The game was played in front of a large crowd at Berry Hill who enjoyed the running rugby and some Saturday afternoon sunshine.

Bream started the game off well, scoring the first try of the match after a well-executed line out move after six minutes. 

Cinderford held strong before Bream scored again from another line out move and soon stretched their lead to 17-0,with a third try.

The Stags came fighting back with David Didcote scoring from a driving maul with Brett Turner converting. The Stags continued to put their opponents under pressure until Damion Marshall was given a yellow card for having a wrestle on the floor with a Bream player.

Bream took advantage of Cinderford being down to 14 men to score two quick tries, stretching the lead to 31-7. 

Even though Cinderford showed a lot of heart with 14 men they couldn’t get over the line with Bream’s defence being solid and the score remained unchanged at half time. 

Despite the 17-point gap Cinderford came out fighting in the second half looking to reduce the arrears.

It was the Stags who scored the first try of the half with Tom Ward making a break from a line out after spotting a gap, after a few phases captain Liam Littleton bundled over the line for a try, Turner converted to make it 31-14. 

Bream scored next making it 38-14. Cinderord came fighting back with Reuben Hinds hitting a hard line and juggling the ball to touch down,Turner converted to make it 38-21.

Bream put their foot down in the final 15 minutes running in two further tries making it 50-21 final score. 

Jayden Hardy got two tries for Bream with one each for Zac Peacey, Zac Hancock,Elliott Teague, Ben Joner Jones, Harry Follos and James Cooper.

Aaron Ryder landed five conversions.

The Stags concluded the season securing promotion to Counties Three for the 24/25 season and runners up in the Junior Combination cup.

A spokesman said: “The team has showed a lot of improvement from last season with a lot of positive performances and results finishing the season with 16 wins and four losses. 

“Thank you for all the support from the fans and families throughout the season.”

Bream coach Dave Emery said the club was delighted with the cup win after the blow of losing the play-off.

He said: “It was a good game and we showed our strength in the scrum and in the line-out.

“We retained the cup which was a nice way to end the season.”

The Forest of Dean Combination Minor Cup final between Bream Seconds and Cinderford Bucks was scheduled to have taken place the previous evening (Friday, May 3).

The match was postponed as the pitch at Drybrook’s Mannings ground was deemed unplayable. A new date for the final has yet to be announced.

The Combination Senior Cup final between Drybrook and Newent will take place at Cinderford’s ground on Wednesday, May with a 7.30pm kick-off.

The Bream side that won the Junior Cup was: Mikey Letheren, Zac Peacey, Chris Taylor, Harry Davies, Jake Scott (capt), Harry Follos, Zac Hancock, Frazer Montague, Liam Brady, Aaron Ryder, Ben Jones, James Cooper, Elliott Teague, Ben ‘Joner’ Jones, Jayden Hardy. Finishers: Dan Lewis, Duncan Adams, Kiran James, Hayden Robbins.