The final league game of the season saw DMPRFC score eight tries at the Northern Echo Arena, against a Cinderford RFC side already relegated, but who stuck to their task against their hosts and matched them for three quarters of the game.

In what would be the final game for a few of the DMPRFC players, the whole 20 players contributed to a fitting farewell, which was furthered enhanced at the Players Dinner in the evening.

The home side opened the scoring after the visitors were caught offside in midfield 20 metres out.

Fly half Tomas APPLETON, returning from duty with the Portugese International side, kicked to the corner and from the resulting catch and drive lineout, Cinderford RFC managed to halt the initial surge.

But it wasn't long before top try scorer Simon UZOKWE grabbed the ball and crashed over for his eighteenth try of the season (5 - 0). Centre Chris AULD kicked a canny conversion from wide out (7 - 0).

Cinderford RFC fluffed the restart and DMPRFC were awarded a lineout on half way.

Unfortunately the lineout was stolen by Cinderford, allowing one of their big locks to gallop up field and into the home sides territory.

In his haste to feed the ball back, he did so with too much force, sending the ball straight into the arms of retiring DMPRFC lock Seb FERREIRA, who gladly accepted the gift, turned and sprinted into the corner, steam-rolling over a desperate defender who clung on despite FERREIRA taking him over the line for the score (12 - 0). The conversion from Chris AULD was narrowly missed.

After this initial period of dominance by DMPRFC, Cinderford did settle and for the rest of the first quarter competed well and when DMPRFC were adjudged offside in midfield, fly half James MOFFAT kicked the resulting penalty (12 - 3).

Cinderford were trying to gain a foothold in DMPRFC territory, when, against the run of play, scrum half Bruno BRAVO broke into midlfield, carrying on his run into the Cinderford half.

He produced a deft chip in behind the visitors defence, which supporting player and lock Rob CONQUEST gathered and sprinted into the corner, (17 - 3).

Again the conversion didn't find the route between the uprights from wide out.

Cinderford RFC responded bravely with a try of their own, as DMPRFC perhaps took their foot off the gas, lock Roger BIRKIN crossing the whitewash (17 - 8), with MOFFAT kicking the conversion (17 - 10).

DMPRFC scored just before oranges, again from a break by Bruno BRAVO.

A Cinderford player was penalised in the tackle for holding on and the penalty was quickly tapped and ran by the diminutive scrum half, who took the ball 35 metres before delivering the scoring pass to winger Peter HOMAN who outstripped the covering defence to dot down (22 - 10). Tomas APPLETON kicked the conversion (24 - 10).

At oranges although DMPRFC had scored 4 tries, sufficient for the bonus point before the break, Cinderford RFC had fought hard too and were still in the game.

This was underlined as the second half wore on, when veteran forward Adam BALDING latched on to a catch and drive lineout for the touchdown (24 - 15).

Just as Cinderford RFC may have believed themselves edging towards the home sides total, DMPRFC opened up, running in a further four tries.

Their first of the second half tries came as a result of a flowing passage of play, which saw the ball whisked from left to right and then left, until the ball was fed to wing Jake HENRY, who cut a superb line across the defence to score under the posts (29 - 15). APPLETON converting (31 - 15).

Next game a superb break from hooker Santi SOCINO, who broke down the short side, through a couple of tackles, before feeding the ball to a grateful full back in Jacob WOODHOUSE, who glided in for the score (36 - 15). Bruno BRAVO kicked the conversion (38 - 15).

As the game entered the last few minutes, Cinderford winger Lloyd Stapleton scored a consolation try for the visitors (38 - 20), converted by full back and skipper Michael Wilcox (38 - 22).

But it was DMPRFC who had the last laugh so to speak, when firstly replacement Callum MACKENZIE cut across the defence for a score under the posts (43 - 22), converted by APPLETON (45 - 22).

Secondly, it was only fitting that Simon UZOKWE finished the game as he had started it, with his nineteenth try of the season (50 - 22), APPLETON slotting the afters (52 - 22).

So Cinderford RFC returned to the Forest of Dean with nothing to show for their undoubted efforts and all at DMPRFC hope they will return to the league soon.

All at DMPRFC bid a fond farewell to loose head prop and skipper Gareth NESBIT, who played his last game before retiring from his playing days in the game, showing that he could 'cut the mustard' as a National League One player and had done for the last two seasons, which to other, all along, was never in doubt.

As for DMPRFC, a sixth place finish gives DMPRFC top spot in the North of England outside of the Premiership and Championship teams, which is a first for many years and also the highest league position in their history.

Thank You to Match Day Sponsors: SG Petch and Match Ball Sponsors Bella Italia