CHIPPING Sodbury have taken a huge leap towards promotion from Gloucester One this season after a big top-of-the-table victory over near neighbours Dursley on Saturday.

Sodbury, in second, are now four points ahead of third-placed Dursley with six matches left before the team that is going up with runaway leaders Longlevens is decided.

And Sodbury also have the advantage of having a game in hand over Dursley.

So the importance of victory last Saturday could not be over-estimated and the home side came out on top.

Sodbury weathered an early onslaught from Dursley but were able to creep down the pitch until they had a lineout ten metres from the Dursley line.

The ball was secured by the athletic Matt Cooke. During a series of rucks Dursley infringed but, rather than an easy kick at goal, Sodbury opted for a scrum.

Their monstrous front five drove the Dursley pack backwards until Phil Player saw the try line approach. With expert timing, he picked up to explode over for his first try, which James Bennett converted.

The Sodbury pack had once again brought their A game and it was not long before the boot of Dan Bradley provided them with field position.

Dursley were again shoved off their own ball at a scrum with Charlie Rokodakunivosa picking up and barged over the line although the Fijian man-mountain was held up. There was no such luck for Dursley from the re-set scrum. Once again, the big men surged forward, leaving the technical stuff to Player, who pounced for the second time to score his and Sodbury’s second try, which Bennett improved.

Sodbury made it 17–0 with a Bennett penalty from the edge of the 22 but soon after came the loss of Cooke.

On in his place came Jason Petchey, who threw himself around accruing an impressive tackle count.

The second half was a much tighter affair as Dursley surged back into the contest and kept Sodbury in their own half.

Dursley managed to enjoy the territory advantage despite conceding numerous turnovers and having a torrid time at the lineout as Sodbury captain Anthony Steele’ got in front of the Dursley jumpers.

Sodbury also lost scrum half Tom Cawston, with Ryan Halford taking his place while the rest of the team also had a shuffle, with the inspirational Player switching to inside centre.

Sodbury’s third try started to build from deep in their own half as the young team showed patience in the build-up.

Runs from Raffi Sheik and Andy Parsons brought play into the Dursley 22. Support was close at hand in the shape of man of the match Dave Guest who, along with props Lee Ralph and Luke Smith, worked tirelessly for the team.

As the ruck tally grew and Dursley’s defence thinned, battering ram Dan Bradley was close to scoring.

However, Player showed him how it was done. With his legs pumping hard and the ball clamped in his huge arms, he drove his way over through three defenders for a much-celebrated hat-trick of tries.

Sodbury relaxed enough to let Dursley score two well-crafted tries in the final five minutes but it finished squarely as Sodbury and Player's day.

l Thornbury earn victory over Drybrook. Page 62