Dursley Rugby Football Club
Dursley R.F.C.
Registered as a Community Amateur Sports Club CASC since 2004
Latest News
U9s GRFU County Festival Report
15th February 2010
Dursley U9s made the long trip over to Drybrook in the Forest of Dean on Sunday for the qualifying rounds of the County Festival competition with nineteen other teams. Dursley again showed the strength in depth of their junior section, being the only club to field two U9 teams, Dragons & Raptors - and taking all available registered players.
Both Dursley teams found themselves in strong pools, but Dragons made a flying start, with a very creditable 1-1 draw against Hucclecote. The reliable Johnny Coniam took the try, but it was a good team performance all round with powerful running from captain Lillie Wadey and good support play from Dominic Stephenson and Jacob Parsonage. Next up for the Dragons were Longlevens, and despite committed tackling from Daniel Watson and Player of the Week Dylan Harries, levens proved to be too strong and took the points. The final game in this pool saw Dragons needing just a draw against Stroud to secure a Quarter Final berth in the Plate competition. This looked likely going into the last couple of minutes at 1-1, following a fine Max Coniam try, but it wasn't to be the Dragon's day and they went down to two Stroud tries that on another day could have easily been pulled back for what looked like forward passes in the support play. Overall, despite just missing out, the Dragons had played some of their best rugby of the season.
On Pitch C, Raptors looked well off the pace in their first game and took a convincing 7-0 defeat against County Champions Chosen Hill. They showed great spirit though to re-group and come out strongly in the second game, to secure a vital 2-1 win over St Mary's Old Boys, with a try either side of the break from Solo Tomlinson and captain Alec Lloyd respectively and some huge tackling from Thomas Swift and Jago Harling. A long wait for their final group game wasn't the ideal preparation to take on a strong Old Richians side. The Raptors took a while to re-start and by half-time the game was away from them, with a three-zero scoreline that didn't reflect possession and territory.
For the quarter finals, Dursley Raptors drew Frampton Cotterell. This was always likely to be a well-matched game and so it proved. Frampton powered into a two try lead at the break, but Dursley wouldn't lie down, with great driving from Harriet Bury and a couple of pulsating runs from winger Joe Butterfield and a battered but courageous Lloyd. The Dursley pressure told though, with Tomlinson going over first, showing great tenacity and not a little skill, followed by a powerful score from Swift. Both sides then had opportunities to wrap the game up, but the defences stayed strong. Dursley's being epitomised by Adam Jones who had competed ferociously all day to earn the Player of the Week award. Unfortunately for Dursley, the draw didn't prove to be enough, as Frampton had the stronger record in the pools and will progress to the Final's day in late March. The Dursley players received tremendous applause as they left the pitch though, from supporters appreciative of the great quality and competitiveness of their rugby.
Dragons - Dominic Barton; Johnny Coniam; Max Coniam; Dylan Harries (player of the week); Max Palmer; Jacob Parsonage; Dominic Stephenson; Ben Usher; Lillie Wadey (captain); Daniel Watson
Raptors - Harriet Bury; Joe Butterfield; Alfie Galvin; Ellis Gazzard; Jago Harling; Adam Jones (player of the week); Alec Lloyd (captain); Thomas Swift; Solo Tomlinson
<<Next Older Story Next Newer Story>>
