Bishopston 10 Dursley 33

Gloucester One

DURSLEY travelled to Bishopston who were promoted at the end of last season. The wet and very windy conditions were sure to play a part in the result.

Dursley started well with fly-half Grant Boucher taking an early chance to kick at the post following a penalty just outside the 22 and put the first points on the board after 3 minutes 0-3. With the Dursley forward pack on the front foot a strong tackle by prop Ed Scott-Bowden led to another penalty for holding on which Boucher confidently kicked from 40 metres despite the strong cross wind 0-6. Bishopston rallied and on the 8 minute mark closed the gap to score an unconverted try following a scrum on the 5 metre line and several phases 5-6. With 15 minutes played winger Brad Winchle made a break down the wing and popped the ball inside for scrum half Tom Pinker to score and Boucher once again kicking the extras 5-13.

Midway through the half a poor line out from Bishopston saw second row Jake Martin retrieve the ball and charge for the line to score an unconverted try extending the lead to 5-18. From a poor restart by Bishopston the ball was picked up by Scott-Bowden who made 40m then passed to captain Scott Udal in support to score Dursley’s third try with Boucher converting from the touchline 5-25.

Strong tackling by centres Max Pullin and A J Caddick along with winger Tom Vick thwarted the Bishopston challenge in midfield. With half time approaching a break by Number 8 Simon Camm crossed the line but was unfortunate to knock on with the touchdown.

Bishopston answered with a break but excellent cover by the Dursley wingers brought them up short and Bishopston were given a yellow card for their efforts. With the last play of the half Dursley were awarded another penalty 40 metres out which Boucher brilliantly kicked bringing the score to 5-28.

Bishopston started the stronger in the second half but could not break the Dursley line with good tackling from back row Jamie Lord and Jack Rowe, prop Damien Crosswell and hooker Joe Cowley. With 10 minutes played Chris Perrett came on to replace full back Liam Smith. Dursley looked solid with more strong tackling from Rowe and Martin and excellent work by the Dursley scrum to push Bishopston off their own ball.

With 16 minutes played Crosswell left the field with Martin moving to prop, Lord to second row and Mike Goodyear joining back row. Midway through the half Bishopston found a gap in the Dursley defence to score in the corner but missed the conversion 10-28.

Good work by Camm at the breakdown heightened Bishopston frustrations leading to another yellow card. Jack Robson replaced Camm and immediately made an impact with fresh legs carving the Bishopston defence.

An unfortunate second yellow leading to red for Bishopston reducing them to 13 men allowed Dursley to capitalise from a break by Robson and Rowe along the line for Vick to score the all-important four try bonus point bringing the final score to 10-33.