A THRILLING match which included 11 tries and a grand total of 90 points kick-started Cinderford's rugby season in fine style at Dockham Road.

Even the most committed fans were privately admitting a seed of doubt has been sown on the back of two heavy defeats away from home at Barking and Cambridge. Neither places are ideal destinations to journey at the outset of a new campaign. And such were the nature of the defeats that inevitably there was uncertainty.

However supporters can sleep easily following the demolition job on Macclesfield. On this showing Andy Deacon's new-look team may not win the title but neither will they be dropping down a league.

The step-up in the level of commitment and performance will make the next few weeks more than interesting, and many supporters believe that once a few rough edges have been smoothed the team can comfortably improve still further and become a major force to be reckoned with.

Macclesfield typified the quality of the team Cinderford have to deal with. They never gave up and managed three late tries to give an air of respectability to the score. On their own cabbage patch they will be a handful.

Cinderford gave a home debut to the much vaunted former Gloucester star Jake Boer. His formidable and powerful running was greatly anticipated but the first strike came from centre three-quarter Dewi Scourfield who scored after just three minutes. Mark Woodrow converted and added two penalty goals and a drop goal ahead of Boer's warmly welcomed debut try for his new club. Again Woodrow converted.

Two tries in as many minutes – scored by scrum-half Sam Brown and full-back Dan Trigg – and more immaculate kicking by Woodrow who converted them both and then added a penalty, put Cinderford firmly in charge.

Flying wingers Nev Codlin and Kyle Palm added to Macclesfield's discomfort with excellent scores and once again the reliable boot of Woodrow added the conversions to bring his personal haul to 24 points.

Cinderford chairman Rob Worgan welcomed the victory and said the performances of Boer and Chris Hall were both highly encouraging . "They are talismen for the younger players and that can only be for the good. I also thought that scrum-half Sam Brown looked outstanding on his debut ," he said.

The next test is at Coventry this Saturday.