Gloucester One League

Dursley 26 Widden Old Boys 13

FOLLOWING Dursley’s bonus point win last week and more rain and high winds to contend with, Dursley faced Widden Old Boys who were having a better start to the season and were lying near the top of the table before the game.

The match started with end-to-end play and neither team dominating. A good tap through by winger Tom Vick put Dursley deep into Widden territory and at the first scrum of the match eight minutes in the Dursley front five of Ed Scott- Bowden, Joe Cowley, Ty Chappell, Scot Udal and Jack Western dominated leading to a penalty five metres out and Dursley elected to scrum.

Dursley’s previous performance at the scrum meant that the Widden players were all committed to the set piece allowing number eight Simon Camm to pick up from the back and drive for the line unchallenged with fly half Grant Boucher adding the conversion 7-0.

Dursley kept up the pressure and hard yards from flanker Jamie Lord followed by an excellent back line move from centres Max Pullin and A J Caddick put Vick through for a certain score but the last pass was judged to be forward.

Brave play by flanker Jack Rowe to secure loose ball kept possession with Dursley and controlled phases by the forward pack set scrum half Jack Pinker up to score Dursley’s second try mid way through the half with Boucher adding the extras for 14-0.

Dursley continued to look solid at the restart with Pinker taking advantage of the wind at their backs to turn in a long distance clearance and winger Brad Winchle chasing down. With 25 minutes played, Widden got their first scoring opportunity with a penalty on the 22 in front of the posts closing the gap 14-3.

Dursley's discipline slipped and a yellow card for prop Bowden at 29 minutes and Rowe five minutes later left Dursley with 13 men. Widden took advantage and scored an unconverted try following a line-out five metres out with a catch and drive to the line. Full-back Liam Smith used the wind advantage to make several long distance returns. With the half drawing to a close Bowden returned to the pitch only to lose Boucher seconds later to another yellow.

With Rowe back and a yellow for a Widden player, numbers were even and Dursley added the first points of the second-half following an excellent scrum giving Camm a repeat of his first score with Pullin stepping up to add the conversion. With 10 minutes played, Boucher rejoined but Widden closed the score with another catch and drive for an unconverted try to make it 21-13.

Midway through the half Dursley won a scrum against the head and drove the Widden pack over the line for Camm to score a third but unconverted try.

Good tackling by Cowley and Dursley showed great defence as Widden camped in the Dursley red zone for five minutes. With the Dursley line-out and scrum looking solid, Widden were unable to make inroads and the match ended with Dursley the worthy winners and with another bonus point win that takes Dursley to fourth in the league with only seven points separating second to seventh position.