Bournville 57 Cinderford 62

James Weaver brought the house down with a last-gasp try which salvaged a second bonus point for Bournville in this crazy, chaotic National Two West contest at Avery Fields.

Weaver came out of retirement to make his first senior appearance in 18 months and to help ease Bourns’ front-row selection issues and he went over under the posts from the final play of the match to add a losing bonus point to the try bonus secured earlier.

There were 119 points and 18 tries – evenly divided between the sides – in a free-flowing contest of excellent attacking play and indifferent defence but Bourns were left to rue poor decision-making and indiscipline at critical stages of the game.

Although Bourns kept all 15 men on the pitch throughout they conceded too many soft penalties around the middle third of the pitch which allowed a well-drilled and powerful Cinderford to head back to the Forest of Dean with five points.

For Bourns it was three points lost rather than two gained and the third time in four matches this season that 60 or more points had been conceded.

It may have been entertaining for spectators in perfect weather conditions but it was a frustrating afternoon for the coaches who had hoped that Bourns would bounce back from last week’s defeat at Hinckley with a win.

Once again Bourns got the perfect start with Cinderford infringing from the kick-off, Bourns kicking to the corner and Harry Dawson rumbling over for the first try after three minutes which Jacob Fewtrell converted.

But Cinderford responded with a fusillade of three tries in a  six minute period with loosehead prop Matt Cotton, scrum-half Rio Ebanks and openside flanker Andrew Smyth  all finding gaps in the home defence.

Jonjo Fanning reduced the deficit when he powered over after Callum Nicholls had won clean ball at the back of a lineout and Fewtrell added the extras but Cinderford had the try bonus point in the bag after 20 minutes when former Italy and Gloucester number eight Jake Polledri went over from close range.

Smyth added his second try and completed his hat-trick which sandwiched a second for Dawson and Bourns also secured the try bonus before the break when Cam Smith rounded off a superb attack which started on the 22 and was sustained by excellent handling and support play.

Bourns were 12 points adrift at the break but still in the game, a fact Cinderford acknowledged when they opted to kick a 44^th minute penalty for the posts and fly-half Joe Winfield added the three points.

Oscar Fawkes-Underwood, on as a replacement for Sam Grimshaw who suffered a head injury, showed nimble footwork to cross for Bourns’ fifth try but that was almost immediately cancelled out by one from Cinderford hooker Jacob Perkins from a lineout catch and drive.

Fawkes-Underwood then set up Reiss Price with a deft chip ahead which the scrum-half snaffled but Cinderford went 17 points clear when left wing Brendan Llewellyn went over on the overlap.

Bourns again showed their resolve and character by finishing strongly with Patrick Smallman muscling over after Fewtrell had tapped and run a penalty and Fawkes-Underwood reduced the deficit to just five points when he picked his way through for a second try.

But Bourns then conceded another penalty which gave Cinderford the opportunity to kick to the corner. Bourns did well to sack the lineout but they were then penalised for popping up at the resulting scrum which gave Cinderford lock Ben Carpenter the opportunity to score their ninth try.

That ended Bourns’ hopes of victory but there was just enough time for them to muster one final attack which ended in Weaver dotting down in front of the clubhouse balcony to snatch the second point.