Gloucester One League

Spartans 34 Dursley 5

DURSLEY knew they were up against it on Saturday when playing unbeaten leaders Spartans away in the Gloucester One League and were comfortably beaten.

Despite having reduced numbers due to injury and availability Dursley were hoping for a better result than their previous meeting back in September which ended in a close defeat for Dursley 17-25 but that was not to be.

Spartans applied pressure from the start and only a decent clearance kick from full back Ryan Malpass stopped the charge. The Dursley forward pack Andy Plumridge, Joe Cowley, Ty Chappel, Jack Western, Silas Winterbottom, Liam Akhurst, Jack Rowe and Simon Camm set out their stall at the first scrum by pushing Spartans off the ball, continuing the dominance they have had in this area for much of the season.

However it was Spartans who put the first points on the board from a penalty in the red zone for offside five minutes in which Spartans kicked for goal 3-0.

The Dursley line out was working well but another penalty for offside at the 18 minute mark which was kicked to touch set up Spartans for a converted try 10-0.

With 25 minutes played, prop Chappel was shown a yellow card for coming in at the side which was a team offence. Some strong defence by Dursley held Spartans out and they showed their mettle with some flowing running play and good offloads by winger Chris Perrett and Western.

The score remained unchanged when Chappel rejoined. Dursley benefited from a yellow card for the Spartans loosehead and spent the closing minutes of the half in the Spartans red zone but despite patience, hard work and some intelligent shepherding by scrum half Joe McGough they were unable to cross the line bringing the half to a close 10-0.

The second half started with Liam Smith replacing winger Olli Halford and Stuart Newman replacing Plumridge both due to injury and saw Akhurst move into the front row.

Spartans dominated the early play and by eight minutes had scored two tries and a conversion taking the score to 22-0. With 13 minutes played Dursley were presented with another scoring opportunity following pressure on the Spartans line but Spartans 'recovered' the ball on the floor to clear.

Midway through the half, Spartans added another converted try to increase their lead 29-0. Strong tackling by fly half Grant Boucher and Chappel and some hard yards by centres AJ Caddick and Duncan Goodison, Rowe and Western kept Spartans out until 35 minutes when they scored an unconverted try 34-0.

Pleasingly, Dursley upped the pace in the closing minutes and were rewarded with a try in the corner from a kick and chase by Perrett but Boucher was unable to add the extras for a disappointing 34-5.

This along with other results on the day saw Dursley maintain their closely challenged third place in the league, one point behind Gloucester Old Boys and one point in front of Brockworth.

The next game is at home on Saturday against St Brendans who are currently lying ninth in the table.