In difficult conditions at Dursley two evenly matched teams played out an intriguing encounter. The home team set out to play a forward orientated game whilst the away team set out their stall by moving the ball wide at every available opportunity.

Cryptians, playing into the strong wind in the first half, were camped on the their own line for extended periods and only excellent well drilled defence kept the home team at bay. Time after time big tackles caused mistakes to be made to allow centre Marc Blackford to clear his lines. The strong wind ensured, however, that not a great deal of ground was made with each kick.

The only sign of Cryptians ascendency in the first half came in the shape of a break from centre Neil Sturgess but a finishing touch was not applied and the game remained 0-0 until five minutes before the break.

Then came the only try of the game as Cryptians stole a Dursley line out and moved the ball quickly through their back division. Fly half Gareth Butler, Sturgess and Blackford all handled until full back Dean Johnson cut inside and broke through. Sturgess sprinted up the centre in support and took the well timed Johnson pass, showing good pace to slide in next to the posts.
Blackford converted and, vitally, Cryptians had gone ahead playing into the wind.

Dursley, however, responded before half time with a penalty from their outside centre to make the score 3-7 at the interval.

Turning around and now playing into the wind, Cryptians were keen to used the boot to good effect territorally. However, an extended period of Dursley possession drew them within range and they landed another penalty to close the gap to a point.

Cryptians responed swiftly as Blackford landed a penalty of his own following a period of pressure and soon after another Blackford penalty put the away team firmly in the driving seat at 6-13.

Another extended piece of Dursley possession followed, with the Cryptians fringe defence severly tested. Leigh Smith and Neil Brookes were to the fore of a fine defensive effort which limited the home side to only one more penalty to make the score 9-13.

Cryptians then made a change with Mark Hout replacing Steve Crowther at prop and not long after wards Hout found himself in space. From the ensuing maul Cryptians looked like scoring a match clinching try but the home defence held firm and they managed to scramble the ball clear.

Blackford landed another penalty before another extended period of pressure from the home team threatened the Cryptians line again. But the defence held firm and Cryptians held on for a fine victory, 9-16.

This was a very tight game which Cryptians squeezed out excellently, showing defensive organisation and terrific spirit. Their winning run in Gloucestershire Two now stretches back to October and is worth nine games.
Beating Dursley also avenges an early season defeat and means that they have beaten every team in the league this season, a record they are very proud of.

Man of the match could of been any one of the forwards including Neil Brookes and captain Andrew Royce. But it went to blindside Leigh Smith who excelled on the floor in a game which was perfectly suited to his style of rugby.