Cirencester RFC 26

Dursley RFC 36

CIRENCESTER lost a close-fought game against Dursley.

Cirencester started very brightly, moving the ball well with great retention. Zeb Waite, the mercurial Ciren centre, broke the line out wide to feed his winger Eric Spink to score the opening try, it was converted by Mike Howell.

Dursley gradually built their way into the game with big midfield runners, that were making holes in the hesitant home defence. They were also benefitting from the home side's ill-discipline that enabled them to kick to the corner, gaining important field position.

The final quarter of the half saw the men in maroon move into 7-19 lead with three similar executed tries. But Ciren were given hope of a way back into the game with Harvey Dickson ghosting over to score a well taken try, again Howell kicking a fine conversion. Half-time score 14-19.

The Whiteway men needed a good start to the second half, but in fact it was Dursley who scored the first try of the second half.

The Ciren players never gave up pushing to score their third try, to keep a foothold in the game. It was that man again Waite who scored with pace, power, and agility, making the score 19-24. As the players started to wilt in the afternoon, more gaps were opening up and once more Dursley scored their fifth try keeping day light between the two sides.

But Ciren skipper Oliver Gibson had other ideas and went on a barnstorming run just getting held up on the line, with a neat off load he found debutant prop Chris House who had the simplest of task to score, after some great backing up. The two points were again added by Howell. With ten minutes left it was game on at 26-29. Unfortunately, the theme of the game continued with the away side hitting back with a strong run from their prop who crashed over under the sticks. This would be the last score of the game, that included ten tries.