Gloucester Premier

Cirencester 15 Cheltenham Saracens 30

CIRENCESTER produced their most disappointing performance of the season to lose to a strong Cheltenham Saracens team on Saturday.

Town started brightly, putting together good phases of play, with Luke Armitage pulling the strings at scrum half.

Sarries defence was solid, though, and from their first real venture into Town's half, their fly half broke through from short range for a converted try.

Ciren stuck to their game plan but too often were guilty of not supporting their runners or of attempting silly offloads in attack. From a turnover in midfield and a grubber through, a mix up at the back allowed Sarries to score their second try.

From the restart, Sarries kicked long, Luke Newman carried the ball back strongly but was upended in a horrific spear tackle by the Cheltenham fly half. The referee was left with no choice but to issue a red card.

This spurred Ciren into action and from an attacking scrum, James Fisher danced over for a converted try to bring them back into the game.

Their joy was short-lived, however, when from yet another turnover caused by players becoming isolated, Sarries went almost the length of the field with a counter attack that earned them an unconverted try to lead 19-7 at the break.

Ciren started the second half as they had the first and quickly earned a penalty which Fisher converted to narrow the gap. From the restart, however, Ciren were again guilty of not supporting their team-mates and conceded their umpteenth penalty for holding on. This was converted to extend the lead again.

Ciren pressed again and when Armitage caught a clearance kick, he stepped through four or five would-be tacklers to send the always improving Zeb Waite in for a try out wide.

Sarries weren't finished and as Ciren continued to try and force the game they scored a penalty and a further unconverted try to seal the bonus point.

MoM: Archie Doyle, making his first start at open side, who was outstanding in all aspects of his game and didn't deserve to be on the losing side.