DURSLEY find themselves four points behind second-placed Chipping Sodbury in the table after going down to defeat.

Before the game, Dursley and Chipping Sodbury were on equal points and lying third and second, respectively, meaning that the winners of this crunch match would enhance their promotion chances with only six games to play.

Dursley won a penalty from the kick-off and went deep into Sodbury territory. However, Sodbury came back with two penalties, the latter of which saw them opt for a scrum which was driven over by their big pack for a converted try.

Some excellent tackling by prop Jake Martin plus flankers Harry Lea and Jamie Lord succeeded in stopping several breaks by Sodbury and the Dursley defence held firm before Sodbury used the same tactics as their previous score and drove over for their second converted try.

Never ones to let their heads drop, Dursley rose to the challenge as scrum half Jack Pinker, making his first team debut, made a good break and more good tackling from centre AJ Caddick, winger Damien Cummings and Lea stemmed the Sodbury charge.

Just on the midway mark, Sodbury increased their lead with a kicked penalty to make it 17-0.

Dursley had their chances. Pressure inside the Sodbury 22 could have seen a try but they lost the ball forward in the tackle when they looked set to make a certain score.

And good work on the ground by Number8 Simon Camm and hooker Josh Case gave Dursley ball retention for wing Brad Winchle and full-back Simon Lane to run from deep. A perfectly weighted kick over the top of the defence by prop Ash Young put Dursley back in the Sodbury red zone but they were unable to capitalise on the chance.

Dursley pressurised after the break with most of the play in the Sodbury half but with five minutes left and against the run of play, Sodbury added to their lead with an unconverted try to go 22-0 ahead.

With the big Sodbury side tiring, Dursley spread the ball and were finally rewarded following good play at the breakdown as they sent the ball along the backs for Cummins to score in the corner and fly-half Boucher converting from the touchline.

Camm made hard yards from the restart with the ball, once again, being spread along the line for winger Sampson to touch down in the opposite corner reducing the deficit to 22-12. A yellow card for Sodbury increased Dursley’s chance of a further score. More good play from Pinker put Dursley back within scoring range but the final whistle brought about an end to the hopes of a losing bonus point.