Captain Brad saves the day

Dursley travelled to Ashley Down in the knowledge that they were difficult opponents on their own patch but they wanted a better result than the 8-8 draw earlier in the season .  Before the match Ashley Down were four points ahead of Dursley in the league with Dursley having two games in hand.

 

Dursley started strongly with the slope in their favour and it took only three minutes for prop Ben Brinkworth to power over for an unconverted try following a line out in the 22. Ashley Down closed the gap five minutes later with a penalty awarded for coming in at the side. From the kick off a good chase by flanker Josh McDonald retained the ball and Dursley continued to pressure and were rewarded with a second unconverted try in the corner by winger Mike Beswick. Ashley Down replied minutes later with a penalty of their own. From the restart McDonald claimed the ball again winning a scrum to Dursley. A couple of good drives by the forwards with special mention for back row Mark Perry and Tom Stevens and second row Graham Dakin set inside centre Dave Sheldon up for yet another unconverted try. Midway through the first half McDonald was sent to the bin for an alleged tackle off the ball. A strong tackle by prop Daren Noble and good defence from fly half Tom Broomfield won a penalty for holding on. Scrum half Henry Pullen put in a long kick to touch but poor defence let Ashley Down back into the game with a converted try. As McDonald returned to the fray a scything tackle by second row Gareth Bell set up a good run for Beswick to score his second try and Broomfield was unlucky to hit the crossbar with the conversion attempt. Dursley finished the first half with Broomfield making a “Barry John like” jinking run to score their fifth try with the score lying at 13-25.

 

Both sides made a scrappy start to the second half and despite some excellent tackling by Sheldon and outside centre Darren Sampson Dursley conceded two penalties in quick succession and the Ashley Down kicker slotted both comfortably. Simon Camm was unlucky to miss the chance of an interception although Dursley then won a penalty on the 22 which Broomfield, after swapping his kicking tee at half time, converted. Ashley Down were awarded yet another penalty adding three more points to their tally. Midway through the half hooker Camm was substituted for Raoul Moore. Heavy pressure from the opposition saw some excellent defence inside the Dursley 22 with big tackles from Brinkworth and McDonald. From a 5m scrum Ashley Down forwards drove the ball over to add another unconverted try. With ten minutes left to play Stevens was replaced with Olli Steel moving in from the wing and Brad Winchle taking to the field for the first time since his injury earlier in the season. Following a kick by Broomfield deep into Ashley Down territory Winchle and Sampson worked well to be brought up just short of the line. Dursley’s sixth try came following a scrum on half way with quick ball from Pullen travelling along the line for Winchle to score in the corner with the conversion from Broomfield bringing the final score to 27-35. 

 

Coaches comment “This was an excellent win away from home – a good team performance”.