Powergen Vase Cainscross 1st XV 35, Minchinhampton 1st XV 10

SAM MILLS' hat-trick saw Cainscross through to the next round of the Powergen Vase.

Playing up the slope in the first half, Cainscross had the best of the early possession and territory. However, their attacks repeatedly fell foul of some strict decisions about playing the ball in the tackle and this led to several penalties against the home side, one of which was converted to give Minchinhampton the lead.

This was soon cancelled out by a Gareth Ponsford penalty and Cainscross moved into the lead when a lovely break from Nick Tagg was finished off at pace by Adam Carter, Ponsford adding the conversion. Cainscross continued to hold sway.

Excellent three-quarter work gave lock Sam Mills the space to score wide out on the left. The conversion was missed and the half finished with Cainscross in front by 15 points to three.

In the second-half, Cainscross continued to apply pressure, using the slope well and keeping Minch pinned in their own half. Mills scored again following a drive from the forwards, conversion missed.

Meanwhile, Luke Dando was playing out of his skin and was continuously first to the breakdown, causing Minch to infringe several times and giving Ponsford another penalty.

Cainscross extended their lead when a Carter break was taken on by Paul Kerr then popped inside to Ponsford to score another unconverted try.

The Minch forwards finally held some good possession and made inroads into the Cainscross five metres, scoring a try close to the posts, which was converted.

The last word, however, went to Mills who scored his hat-trick try with an outrageous long-range dive to score near the posts. Ponsford was on target with the conversion and the game finished 35-10 to Cainscross.

With no game for the United side this week, most of the team travelled over to Cheltenham and bolstered both the Dowty and Minchinhampton sides to enable their fixture to go ahead.

The eventual score was 24-7 with Cainscross players featuring on the scoresheet as Chris Little scored two tries with Hayden Fry contributing one of his own.

This Saturday Cainscross travel south for a league fixture at Bristol Telephones while the United side entertain Gloucester Old Boys third XV at Victory Park.