DURSLEY U8s were worthy runners-up in the Gloucestershire County Cup finals held at Cleve recently.

The initial pool games at St Mary’s Old Boys earlier in March saw a strong Dursley side finish top of their group, having beaten Cleve, Bredon Star and Widden Old Boys.

A very tightly executed performance in the quarter-finals resulted in a convincing win against North Bristol and a place in the finals.

Finals day at Cleve and a pensive but ready Dursley squad took to the pitch for their semi-final match against an excellent Chosen Hill side.

After a few visible nerves from Dursley in the first half they settled in to the size of the occasion and ended the game victorious with a solid 4-2 win.

In the final they faced a well respected and strong Stow-on-the-Wold side.

The first half saw mainly tit for tat tries being scored in quick succession by both sides.

In the second half Stow started to use their speed and quick offloading of the ball to pull ahead but Dursley never gave up the fight.

The final whistle crowned Stow worthy winners with the end result 9-6, but Dursley should feel immensely proud of a gritty and passionate performance.

An extra bonus to the day was coaches Alan Evans and Simon Camm being presented the Gloucestershire RFU U8s Fair Play award.

This is a testimony to the good spirit and can-do attitude that all the players show towards their rugby and of course their coaching.

The Dursley players were proud to be wearing new shirts for the finals promoting CAMMPAIGN4ROB, a charity which is supporting a seriously injured Dursley player. Rob Camm is now tetraplegic and facing life on a ventilator after a car accident in September 2013.

Many fundraising activities are being arranged by players and friends of the club in order to raise funds that will hopefully assist in Rob’s future.

Dursley: Jay Evans, Charlie Jones, Ollie Durston, George Rowlands, Tom Eldridge, Tom Smith, Harry Wallace, Aaron Trotman, Lewis Baker.

Coaches: Alan Evans, Simon Camm.