Gloucester Old Boys 20 Dursley United 22

DURSLEY travelled the short journey up the A38 to play Gloucester Old Boys and came away with a well earnt win.

Old Boys started strongly with their big pack dominating the opening exchanges. What Dursley's pack lacked in size they certainly made up with big hearts and a never say die attitude.

Dursley's front row of Callum Rivers-cole, Josh Case and with Leigh Lord stepping up from the second row slowly started to get the better of their opponents. Dursley's back line were under the cosh in the first 20 minutes, keeping Old Boys at bay.

A strong centre partnership in Fin Mccubbin and Thomas Lee tackled bravely to keep Old Boys at bay. Old Boys battered Dursley's defence but the big maroon doors stayed firmly shut.

Old Boys were rewarded for their efforts with a converted try. Dursley then conceded two penalties that were converted.

Dursley fought back with Jamie Lord crashing over to score after setting up a number of phases involving strong gain line runs from Leigh Lord, Tom Barton, Dave Woodland, debutant Alex Didcot and George Poultney, with Jake Stevenson adding the extras. Dursley lost fullback Callum Reeves with a knee injury which was a big loss as Reeves looked solid in defence and ran everything back at Old Boys.

On came the experienced old timer Wayne Lavis who played the last two minutes of the first half on the wing to take the score to Gloucester Old Boys 13 Dursley 7 at half-time.

Dursley made changes at the break with Lavis going into the frontrow, Case moving to tighthead and Alex Didcot moving from flanker to winger. Old Boys started the second half strongly scoring an early converted try.

Dursley re-grouped and with words of wisdom from Lavis, Dursley went on the attack, the game plan was to run the ball at Old Boys with George Poultry leading the charge backed up by Woodland, Case, Rivers-cole. Dursley started to tear holes in the Old Boys defence with the Lord brothers causing mayhem with the ball in hand.

Dursley were now having fun running the ball at Old Boys from all over the pitch. After several phases of play the impressive Andy Butler cut a beautiful line to score, conversion missed.

Half backs Butler and Stevenson took control and released their backs with ease, Joe Morgan putting in a solid shift in defence and attack. Dursley scored again with Martin Williams rounding off an excellent debut with a try, conversion missed. Dursley now went for the win keeping the ball alive at all times, with just two minutes left on the referees watch Butler took a quick tap penalty from inside his own five metres releasing Barton and Poultney.

With Dursley rampant and quickly clearing out at the break down gave Dursley quick ball with Case, Lavis and Rivers-cole taking advantage to gain metres.

Morgan took the ball further up field with able support from Williams, Lee, Woodland and Mccubbin.

With the Lord brothers combining well took the ball into the Old Boys red zone, Old Boys could not handle the power of the Dursley attack had to concede a penalty.

Butler took a quick tap penalty and crashed over to score, the comeback was complete.