Dursley Rugby Football Club
Dursley R.F.C.
Registered as a Community Amateur Sports Club CASC since 2004
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Seven is the magic number
2nd May 2016
The Colts made an end of season visit to the Cirencester Youth Sevens on the first bank holiday weekend in May.
‘Good luck lads. Remember it is all about pace so just give the ball to Dave.’ This simple message on Facebook earlier in the week from C Major (recently Most Improved) had the immediate effect of late withdrawals by a number who considered their lack of pace likely to be detrimental to the Mighty Dursley cause.
Buoyed by the inclusion of fit again speedster Bomber W, His Wobbliness and renowned speed merchants Feisty C and Jack S, the pace confident squad travelled to Corinium Dobunnorum full of expectation in defence of their crown.
The Mighty Dursley Pace Machine
The first outing for the day saw Mighty Dursley pitted against the hosts Cirencester. Boasting the tallest of front rows with an average height of soaring oaks the squad showed their intent in the first minute with Big Bird soaring to claim their own kick start. Any lack of pace dispelled with the recycled ball finding its way to Jack S who set sail for the corner with the Cirencester cover scrambling desperately in pursuit, a debut Sevens try in sight. Pulled down agonisingly short the ball expertly popped to His Wobbliness trailing in support - first touchdown. Jack S withdrew from the field of play citing a gammy knee. Good play resulted in tries to Batman, Momberator and Nijinsky and saw Dursley emerge victors. WON 5-22.
Having watched travelling tourists Hereford Hops prevail in a very tight encounter over Gordano 12-10 Dursley were under no illusion what their next game held in store. With Mum urging Gammy Knee (now expertly strapped) to ‘take one for the team’ Dursley took to the pitch for what coach Lloyd predicted would be their game of the pool. Thirty seconds in Gammy hobbled from the pitch his promising Sevens debut cut disappointingly short by ligamenty-thing damage. In order to maintain the distinct height advantage in the front row, a re-jigged set-up saw Nijinsky make his way from wing to front row.
Dursley seemed somewhat taken aback by the intensity that the Hoppers bought to the game but held firm until late in the 1st half when the Hoppers scored and converted. Mention to HP for his never say die persistence that prevented what should have been the Hoppers first try - a tackle in goal after what seemed a fruitless chase back taking the would be scorer over the dead ball line much to his gruntlement and Coach Lloyd’s delight! A good passage early in the 2nd stanza led to a try by His Wobbliness. Unable to convert Dursley required a score to emerge victors but a lapse in defence saw the Hoppers score to take a very tight game - LOST 12-5.
Dursley were keen to make amends for an early season 15-a-side loss at the hands of Junction 20 dwellers Gordano in their next match. But Gordano had come to play and play they did. The highlight of the game for Dursley supporters, two length of the pitch Wheels Lendon runs both ending in tries – one to Wheels the other to His Wobbliness. Sadly the Dursley defence seemed to have no answer to the Fiji-esque offloading and support game their opponents displayed and LOST 29-12.
With defence of their title now mathematically impossible, Dursley took to the pitch for their next game determined to avenge the ‘friendly’ tap-up suffered just weeks earlier at the hands of derby rivals, Thornbury. With Nijinsky revelling in his new role in the engine room the team played their best rugby of the tournament – excellent defence keeping Thornbury scoreless and wonderful use of width, offloading and support play resulting in tries for Wheels, Nijinsky, Batman and Momberator. Loss avenged in style, WON 24-0.
Although Dursley was not to contest for the Cup, the Final between Gordano and Hereford is worthy of its mention. Gordano were outstanding. Defensively organised and tenacious it was their support and offloading that caught the eye. No idea what the score was in the end but our friends from Junction 20 were comfortable, and very deserving, winners of the title. Congratulations to Fin from Gordano who got my vote as player of the tournament
And so to the Plate Final against the Broncos and an opportunity to sweep this season’s Derby encounters, 3-1. Stung following their earlier trouncing this was a far closer affair with Dursley turning 7-0 up at half time thanks to a wonderful individual try by Hardly B. With week-long pontifications about scintillating pace, all eyes now on Bomber W as he took to the pitch. Lots of ‘hit me, hit mes’ but little opportunity to show off that infamous turn of speed! Sadly, in spite of loitering at a try line breakdown late in the game, Bomber’s promised celebration back flip wasn’t to be seen. Batman finished off an excellent tournament by scoring and converting.
Plate Winners – 14-0
Coach's Note
Mentions of the Week go to Batman Butler and Nijinsky Gerrard. Batman you completed a bridesmaid’s season on an outstanding bride’s note – excellent decision making and service all afternoon but it was your defence as sweeper that was flawless making no less than five last-man, try-saving tackles. Nijinsky I think you have found your position and game – your runs were always damaging, your pace unmatched and your defence strong.
As English rugby strives to match a southern hemisphere game that sees all 15 on the park providing supporting lines, offloading in contact, speed to, and effectiveness at, the breakdown I believe a healthy dose of sevens rugby throughout the youth years would go a long way to achieving the objective.
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