CINDERFORD'S rugby future looks secure. Gritty, gutsy and with no lack of skill the Forest club's Colts team gave a great account of themselves against national champions Bedford on Saturday.

Fans who elected to watch the real thing rather than television rugby were richly rewarded. Though Cinderford were eventually tamed by a well drilled and physically superior team, all the cheers were for the Forest boys.

"They did really well. To concede only three tries against the Bedford line-up was a considerable achievement. They have won the National Cup six times in the last seven years and that fact alone speaks for itself," said Cinderford's Nigel Wilce.

"They are an academy team with the option to select players from a wide area. In contrast all our boys are local," he said.

The defeat by Bedford was only Cinderford's third loss of the season. Unable to find sufficient fixtures locally, they play in the Welsh League and top the table. There is still the prospect of cup success as they have won through to the semi-finals of the League Cup.

The hope, says Wilce, is that eventually some of the players will be good enough to make the grade at National League level.

"That's the bigger picture. Naturally it would be exciting if four or five of the team made it through to the senior side," he said.

Coached by Paul Gale and Paul Roberts, the Colts could be an even better team next season.

Says Wilce: "Only three of them will not be available, though we will probably lose a couple more to college or university. We were all very proud of them on Saturday and they fully deserved to ovation they received from a large and appreciative crowd."

CINDERFORD COLTS: Joe Freeman, Adam Wilce (Ryan Walding), Aiden Price, Liam Littleton, Jack Richards (Matt Hawkins). Jack Jones (Sam Hatton), Sam Baker, Jake Drinkwater (Toby Farrier), Jason Walding (Adam Shellam), Josh Lee (capt), Chance Ridler, Jake Bonser, Louis Overthrow, Mitchell Bourne, Luke Crunden.