DURSLEY were cup runners-up after being beaten by local rivals Stroud, but gave the team two divisions higher than them a scare with a late fight back in the final at Cirencester RFC.

Stroud were quick out of the blocks and, after putting Dursley under constant pressure, duly took the lead after five minutes when the ball was moved along the line for Peter Sykes to cross wide out for an unconverted try.

Stroud kept up the pressure and, when Dursley infringed, James Muir kicked the penalty to put them 8-0 ahead after 18 minutes.

Straight from the restart, Matt Fogarty gathered a loose ball to cross by the posts for a try converted by Muir.

With a 15-point lead, Stroud seemed to take their foot off the pedal and, after 22 minutes, Dursley opened their account with a penalty kicked by Grant Boucher.

The rest of the half was a midfield affair with the Stroud pack dominating up front but Dursley tackled and covered well, causing the Stroud defence a few problems when they had possession.

The second half saw more of the same and, with frequent injury stoppages on the hard ground, it was not much of a spectacle for the crowd to enjoy.

Stroud finally broke the stalemate after 68 minutes when, after a spell of forward pressure, Ben Brinkworth was driven over for an unconverted try.

After 76 minutes Dursley got their reward for a determined performance when skipper Brad Winchle broke from halfway for a try under the posts.

With Boucher adding the conversion and plenty of injury time to be played, Dursley began to have thoughts of a comeback but Muir sealed the game for Stroud with a penalty.

After a few more minutes, referee David Meek blew the final whistle and Stroud skipper John Wand was presented with the cup by Gloucestershire RFU chairman Geoff Davis.