Cheltenham North 14

Dursley 21

DURSLEY added to their recent collection of victories over top of the table teams with a superb performance at Cheltenham North, writes Ian Perrett.

Dursley were at it from the get-go. J Pinker opened the scoring with a seventh-minute penalty.

Dursley's pack had settled early and again proved why they are regarded as the best in the league, some great recycling released Perrett who gobbled up 30 meters, released J Pinker and with a silky hip swerve crossed for 8-0 after 12 minutes.

North realised they needed to up their game, which they did, this allowed Dursley to show they can defend as the mobile forwards repelled the home side at each breakdown for the next seven minutes. A knock on by North and the resulting perfectly controlled scrum saw the ball move from Dursley's 22 to the try line in a flash courtesy of Pinker, Cole, Perrett and the scorer Bailey, J Pinker hit the post with the conversion for a half time score of 13 nil to the visitors.

Whatever was said at half-time worked for North as they scored within a minute of the restart when their number 8 crossed, the 10 adding the two points for 7-13. The home side took the lead 11 minutes later with a try under the posts for 14-13, much to the delight of the home supporters who now found their voices.

Dursley's pack was pivotal in a game changing moment as they pushed Cheltenham back towards their try line, a desperate hand playing the ball on the floor saw a yellow card produced for the number 8 by the well-placed referee. Dursley took full advantage when they choose to scrum, Camm picking up the ball proving unstoppable as he crashed over for 14-18 after 65 minutes.

Dursley continued to work as a unit with crunching tackles and quick breaks appearing all over the pitch which a tiring North found little response to. Back in the fold, Milky Steel put in a man of the match shift popping up where ever the action was throughout the game.

From another threatening break Dursley were awarded a penalty which J Pinker slotted for 14-21. Dursley brought on Robson who brought home the bacon and the points as he steered his charges to what could be Dursley’s finest performance to date.

They next face local rivals Cirencester away on Saturday, March 2.