SKIPPER Will McCarthy, who led his Cirencester side to their epic 22-21 promotion play-off victory over Winscombe on Saturday, is in no doubt about the pivotal point of the match.

Cirencester were under the cosh for the first half-hour of the decider in North Somerset and then Seb Genillard scored a candidate for try of the season.

“For the first 30 minutes we barely touched the ball but we kept defending and we hardly missed a tackle,” said McCarthy. “But they did go 7-0 up.

“Then a kick was charged down on our 10-metre line and it fell kindly into Seb’s hands.

“He set off to score the most unbelievable try for a prop, from well inside our half, breaking through two tackles and then going around another. Seb is a big guy but he used to be a winger and he still has plenty of pace.

“It was a game changer and gave us the huge lift we needed to stick with them.

“Then in the last play of the first half we scored again which took the wind out of their sails.”

At one point Cirencester led 19-7 but the hosts rallied and while Alex ‘Popeye’ Buchalik was sin-binned for a late tackle Winscombe scored a converted try to lead 21-19 with 10 minutes remaining.

Thereafter the game boiled down to a kicking contest between Sam Dearsley of Winscombe and Jack Lister of Cirencester.

“Jack has become a lot more confident in the last two years and he seemed to relish the occasion,” said McCarthy “Jack said anything in the right areas he wanted. He missed a drop goal attempt but then we got a penalty. It was 20 metres out and in front of the posts but it still took a lot of nerve to kick it.”

With five minutes left there was plenty of time for even more drama.

“They got two late penalties, one very difficult which was missed and then one right on full time which was in front of the posts, albeit some 40 metres out,” said McCarthy.

“Rich Tremblen was on their kicker in the first half and I can’t help thinking that made a difference because from that point I don’t think he was the same player.

“I had watched videos of him converting those kicks all day long and I feared the worst, but fortunately for us it drifted two metres left – and the pitch was suddenly full of our supporters.”

Celebrations continued in the hosts’ bar – “Winscombe were very gracious in defeat,” admitted the skipper – and then on to The Woodborough Inn in Winscombe where Ciren had held their pre-match meeting. “We naturally got a bit rowdy and we were politely told to quieten down, so we made our excuses and left,” said McCarthy.

As for the future in Western Counties North, the captain said: “I’m really looking forward to playing the local derbies against Stroud and Cheltenham again.

“I feel I have another couple of seasons in me and we have the foundations of a brilliant squad if we hold on to the good ones.

“I think we will be very competitive next season. In fact, this squad could play at a higher level still. Many of them have 10 more years of rugby in them.”

Director of rugby Andy Deacon added: “I could not be more proud of the team in what was a fantastic weekend for the club.

"The singing of our travelling supporters helped carry us to the win which was so richly deserved by the players and the coaches after 10 months of solid work."