DURSLEY 0 GLOUCESTER OLD BOYS 6

THIS match was one targeted for a win by the Dursley squad but despite the attendance of home grown England player Ben Morgan and other local celebs that wasn’t quite how it played out.

The game started with early penalties for both sides. Dursley made good territory with a penetrating kick into OB five metres by full back Olli Halford and, despite a strong sack at the resulting line out by prop Jake Martin, Dursley were unable to capitalise.

Old Boys put the first points on the board six minutes into the game from a penalty and five minutes later, following a yellow card for the Old Boys centre, Dursley captain Scott Udal took a quick tap penalty to charge through the defence and touch down.

But to Dursley’s dismay the whistle had gone for a forward pass, bringing play back.

Dursley were awarded several penalties that were within kicking distance for scrum half Grant Boucher but the decision was taken to keep up the pressure and kick for touch which proved costly as Dursley failed to convert the territory to points.

Some strong running and several good breaks by props Martin and Ty Chappell, number eight Simon Camm, flanker Harry Lea and wingers Damien Cummings and Jack Pinker, with support from flanker Jamie Lord, continued to put the Old Boys under pressure but their defence held up well, leaving them just 3-0 up at the break.

Dursley made a couple of changes at half time with Jack Robson coming on for Lord and Andy Plumridge on for Martin.

The second half started much as the first with some end to end play but with neither team being able to retain possession.

On the eight minute mark, the Old Boys were awarded a kickable penalty and with their fly half. Dursley were fortunate in that hooker Tom Broomfield was able to point out to Udal and subsequently the referee that the player was not on the pitch when the infringement occurred and therefore the Old Boys full back stepped up for the kick and missed wide. Ten minutes into the half, Simon Lane joined on the wing to replace Pinker.

With 54 minutes played, a yellow card for Robson for an infringement at the lineout reduced the Dursley numbers. Good play in the centre by A J Caddick and Max Pullin kept Dursley in the hunt and the score remained unchanged when Robson rejoined the match.

Only a minute later, Broomfield received a yellow card once again reducing the Dursley numbers for pulling down the maul but also averted an Old Boys try-scoring opportunity.

Captain Udal made a quick break but once again was called back by the ref.

An injury to fly-half James Sheldon brought Pinker back on at scrum-half, with Boucher moving to fly-half. Broomfield came back to the field and with five minutes to play as the Old Boys were awarded a long distance penalty which they kicked to take the score to 6-0.

It was a tough afternoon for Dursley and, despite getting close to the Old Boys tryline several times, Dursley were unable to avoid the defeat.