Stroud Combination Senior Cup Final

Dursley 15 Cirencester 12

DURSLEY won the Stroud Combination Senior Cup for the fourth time in a row after beating Cirencester on their opponents own patch.

It was the last match of the season for Dursley and the match was played at Cirencester as bad weather had postponed proceedings earlier in the month at neutral Painswick’s ground.

The game started with Dursley to kick off Cirencester received well but fumbled the follow on allowing Dursley forwards and wing capitalise and force an early penalty. Malpass at no 10 duly converted putting the first points on the board for Dursley.

Cirencester fired straight back and made good attacking incisive runs deep in to the Dursley 22.

The young Cirencester team working hard and trying to move the ball out wide several times to their wingers and backs. Hard work from the Dursley forwards and some excellent rucking saw the ball pop out to scrum half Butler who moved it wide left exploiting a gap in the Cirencester defence to allow Sam Powell to run in from his own 22 and score wide left . This one was too hard for Malpass to convert

Again Cirencester attacked hard deep again into the Dursley 22, this time their efforts paid off and they managed to score to the left of the posts. Try was unsuccessful.

Dursley kicked off again and attacked from the outset. Cirencester defending well against a larger Dursley forward pack who were working hard to get over the ball and win possession.

Quick scrum half work from Dursley moved the ball out wide several times but each time the attack was foiled by good defence from Cirencester, several mauls and rucks ensued deep within the Cirencester half , a quick pick and go from Damo Crosswell saw him charge through to score right under the posts. A forwards try!

It was converted by Malpass

At half time, the teams re-grouped and both made some tactical substitution’s to keep key positions fresh and the work rates up.

After several forays deep in to the Cirencester half, Dursley forced an error and a penalty awarded. From 35m out, Malpass slotted the points

Cirencester kicked off and from the start were determined to pressure Dursley, and after several plays the Cirencester forwards broke through and Malpass made a crunching tackle and went down badly.

Play stopped for several minutes as Malpass was treated on the pitch and subsequently taken off to be assessed for concussion.

Play restarted and the melee continued – each side searching for the way through – on one of these forays Cirencester broke through with a jinking run and scored under the posts, and was duly converted

In the final ten minutes of the match, Cirencester pressured hard trying to get the ball out to their wingers, but good defence from Dursley, and some late substitutions to keep legs fresh managed to keep them in front.

Grant Boucher, on for Malpass, who had been taken to hospital for concussion assessment and observation, kicked the ball in to touch and the referees whistle blew full time.

Dursley's victory was the fifth time they have lifted the Combination Cup in the last six season.