Gloucester One League

Dursley 10 Gloucester Old Boys 8

With heavy rain in preceding days Dursley welcomed the cold drying wind at their meeting with old adversaries Gloucester Old Boys.

Dursley started strongly and won a penalty 2 minutes in which fly half Grant Boucher comfortably slotted despite losing his footing to take an early lead 3-0. Dursley dominated possession but it was Old Boys that made the next score following a drive to the line from a line out for an unconverted try 3-5. Dursley continued to pressure the Old Boys line and eventually obtained a penalty in front of the posts which Boucher uncharacteristically missed.

Winger Tom Vick made a good take and off load to put Dursley through but the gain was immediately negated by some excellent Old Boys defence.

Good tacking by prop Ty Chappell and hard yard by centres Max Pullin and A J Caddick once again put Dursley though but the attack was thwarted. Dursley made changes with prop Damien Croswell being replaced by Andy Plumridge and flanker Jamie Lord for Jack Robson and even with the addition of an extra lifter in the line out Dursley could not maintain possession.

Strong tackling by flanker Jack Rowe in midfield and good work around the fringes by hooker Joe Cowley and number 8 Simon Camm halted the Old Boys charge. With the last play of the half from and Old Boys line out the ball was kicked to touch leaving the score unchanged at 3-5.

Old Boys claimed the first points of the second half from a penalty after a 6 minutes to increase their lead 3-8. Before the restart Chris Perrett replaced Liam Smith at full back. The Dursley line out continued to malfunction but eventually an excellent take by second row Jack Western and a good break put them on the front foot to attack the Old Boys line.

Strong carries by Camm and captain Scott Udal kept Dursley in hunt. The Dursley back line made a break following a long pass from Pullin to Vick but they were unable to recover the ball after a hack through. Midway through the half Lord returned for Western.

Some well placed box kicking by scrum half Tom Pinker allowed winger Brad Winchle to make a break up the wing but was stopped by a huge tackle .

Dursley pressed for the line and following a number of penalties the Old Boys full back was given a 10 minute sabbatical. With 10 minutes left to play Cowley was replaced by Crosswell and the Dursley forwards pressed for the line crossing twice but both attempts were judged to be held up. With the last play of the game Dursley patience paid off when Plumridge trundled to the line to level the score and Boucher added the extras with the final kick to take the win 10-8.

Dursley are now 5th place in the league on equal points with 3rd an 4th but behind on points difference. They face St. Brendans Old Boys away on Saturday 5th December.