Gloucester Premier

Newent 69 Dursley 0

DESPITE an improved second half performance, Dursley suffered a heavy defeat at league leaders Newent.

With so many injuries and unavailability on the day, it was always going to be a tall order for Dursley.

The wet weather put paid to Newent playing on their own pitch and the game was moved to the nearby Newent Community School.

Dursley were under pressure from the start as the strong Newent forward pack looked solid.

From eight minutes in Newent took control and, with a strong wind behind them, ran in a swathe of tries.

The tally may well have been higher but for a couple of try saving cover tackles from full back Tom Broomfield.

A hail storm blasting horizontally into the faces of the Dursley squad for the final five minutes of the half did little to help their cause and they were pleased to get to half-time with the score line standing at a crushing 50-0.

By the start of the second half the wind which had benefited Newent so well in the first half had moved across the pitch and was of little help to Dursley.

However, they never faltered and throughout the second half kept their heads up and played more in the Newent half.

Midway through the half saw the first decent Dursley break from centre Jack Rowe, supported by No 8 Scott Udal and flanker Sam Porter, which ended with a knock on.

Strong tackling by flanker Olly Steel closed down a number of Newent attacks.

Dursley managed to repel all but three further tries before the welcome sound of the final whistle.