Dursley Rugby Football Club
Dursley R.F.C.
Registered as a Community Amateur Sports Club CASC since 2004
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1sts blow away top of the table Brockworth
14th November 2011
Dursley welcomed top of the league Brockworth this weekend and were looking for an improved performance after a couple of poor results.
Dursley started with a high intensity and strong defence from Josh McDonald and stand out tackler James Sheldon set the benchmark. Dursley had all the possession in the first 10 minutes and were unlucky when a delicate cross field kick from returning Ryan Malpass was just too long for the chasing Dursley players. It wasn’t long though until Dursley did have a chance at some points, after some great work in the loose Simon Camm won a penalty, but Dursley were unable to capitalize, Malpass pushing just wide. All the Brockworth team could do was kick the ball back to the Dursley team, after smart interplay between debutant Cousin Ed Sheldon and returning Aaron Hawley released James Sheldon to score the first try of afternoon, which was converted by Malpass. Score 7-0 to Dursley and well deserved after a very promising start. The good work continued at the restart, where the ball was gathered well, Malpass’ long boot used and a good chase from Gareth Udal put Dursley straight back into the Brockworth half. From this good position Dursley kept the ball tight with strong runs from first Alex Budd and then Matt Billett making holes, their patience was rewarded when Scott Udal crashed over for Dursley’s second score, also converted by Malpass, making the half time score 14-0, the hard work being rewarded.
The second half started how the first half finished, with Dursley having most of the ball. Even when Brockworth did get chance Dursley’s defence from the likes of Jack Robson and Budd was tremendous. It wasn’t long before Dursley got their third try of the afternoon, smart sharp work from scrum half Jordan Lewis made ground and then a fantastic solo effort by Cousin Ed saw him beat several players from inside his own half to score under the Brockworth posts, also converted. Once again it was Dursley defence that needs as much credit as the flair shown in attack, great fringe defence from George Sheldon, Darren Noble and Jake Martin often stopping the Brockworth team behind the gain line and once again it was James Sheldon who’s defence was unfaultable all day. A few injuries saw changes to the Dursley team, welcome to the fray, Tom Stevens who’s first involvement was to steal the ball from what seemed like a certain try by Brockworth. He then released Robson, who in turn released Malpass, who linked up with Cousin Ed to score another fantastic try under the posts, also converted. Stevens looked like a man possessed and linking up with the other back row members stole yet more ball and smart thinking from Lewis cleared Dursley’s lines. Once again it was Dursley’s defence that was solid and a quick turn over released the debutant Cousin Ed Sheldon for another individual score, his third of the game, completing a hat trick of quite brilliant individual scores and increasing the score to 35-0… Which is how it stayed, it was a score line that justified a well-oiled team performance and puts Dursley’s intentions back on track.
Coach Andrew Sharp said: We are always capable of this kind of performance and some individual brilliance at times is exactly what the hard work deserved.
Star Men: Cousin Ed Sheldon, Ryan Malpass and Simon Camm.
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