RFU Junior Vase Second Round

Dursley 18 Longlevens 35

DEFENDING national Junior Vase champions Longlevens proved too good for Dursley on Saturday.

Dursley started strongly and in the opening minutes the forward pack of Josh Case, Alex Budd, Ty Chappell, Jack Western, Scott Udal and Simon Camm, shepherded by scum half Tom Broomfield, put in a well worked drive to find themselves just inches short of the try line and they were unfortunate to come away without a score.

Longlevens regrouped and punished Dursley with a converted try at the eight-minute mark.

Good clearance kicking by fly half Grant Boucher gave some respite but Longlevens added to their score with 15 minutes gone following a penalty at the scrum, which was kicked for posts to make it 0-10.

Midway through the half an injury to Case saw Rich Brookes join the fray with Camm moving to prop.

Ten minutes before half-time Longlevens took advantage of a further penalty to increase their lead.

Dursley clawed their way back into the game with a brilliant interception on the halfway line by winger Brad Winchle, who raced in to score under the posts with Grant Boucher adding the conversion, closing the gap at 7-13.

In injury time, Boucher added a penalty kick each but Longlevens scored another converted try to make the half-time score 10-20.

Strong tackling by Brookes, Harry Lea and Olli Steel and intelligent kicking by Broomfield, Boucher and full back Olli Halford kept Dursley on the front foot and their efforts were rewarded five minutes into the second half with a penalty ,which Boucher slotted after it hit the upright, and the margin was reduced to 13-20. A classic kick and chase by Halford, supported by centres James Sheldon and A J Caddick and winger Damien Cummings, set up second row Western to put in some hard yards.

However, against the run of play Longlevens added an unconverted try, extending their lead to 13-25.

The Dursley lineout was working well with Western and Udal dominant in the air.

Longlevens continued to press and a cover tackle by Broomfield stopped a further scoring certainty.

Midway through the half Halford was replaced by Jamie Hayward, who immediately got into the game with an excellent pick-up on the run.

Shortly after Dursley were reduced to 14 men when Broomfield was shown a yellow card.

More strong tackling by Winchle and Steel kept Longlevens at bay until the closing minutes when they added one more converted try and a penalty to make it 13-35.

Dursley finished the game on a high with a good try by Chappell, set up by Steel and Josh Bailey, who replaced Broomfield.

The conversion attempt from Boucher fell inches in front of the upright on the final whistle.

This Saturday Dursley are at home to Bredon.