Rugby: Dursley hit rock bottom after letting big lead slip (From Gazette Series)

Gloucester Premier: Dursley 24 Painswick 24

11:07am Thursday 7th March 2013 in Gloucestershire Sport

DURSLEY let a 24-point lead slip and dropped back to the bottom of the table as honours finished even in their derby clash against relegation rivals Painswick.

Painswick made an awful start as they dropped the kick off allowing the hosts to gain possession and take full advantage as Tom Broomfield crashed over for a try which was converted by Matt Billett, whose kicking impressed throughout the game.

Billett then added a penalty. Weak tackling and poor defensive alignment allowed an alert Dursley back row and half backs to take advantage of the blind side and put in sharp winger Chris Perrett to score twice, both converted by Billett to give them a 24-0 lead after 30 minutes.

A sustained spell in the home 22 and running numerous penalty opportunities finally ended with Jake Saunders passing to winger Will Hewer, who touched down in the corner for a Painswick try which was converted by Ali Bressington.

The score galvanised Painswick as they took control of the second half but Dursley defended doggedly and Billett kicked effectively in clearing their lines.

Eventually two clean breaks from Dom Barnard resulted in a rare brace of tries for the Painswick fly half, both converted by Bressington.

With five minutes left Bressington secured a draw for Painswick with a superb penalty from 55 metres out. A draw was a fair result in a game played in an excellent spirit, in which both teams played to their strengths at times but could not sustain their efforts for the full 80 minutes.