Brockworth 18 Widden Old Boys 36
WIDDEN Old Boys made the short trip to Brockworth to play a rearranged Gloucester One game and put in a strong performance to come away with a win.
The Podsmead outfit had most of the possession and territory in the first half but were 10-5 down at half time through a brief lapse in concentration. Widden played with intent, the backs ran the ball from their own half and robust work from the pack created opportunities but Brockworth's defence held them at bay.
Winger Gavin Deane tested the defence and had a try disallowed for a foot in touch, but a slick team move from halfway resulted in winger Kieran Dobbs sliding into the corner. The conversion was missed.
Shortly before half time Brockworth were handed a try when the home side intercepted a pass in Widden's 22, and the conversion was slotted to give them the lead.
Brockworth were awarded a penalty a minute later and due to a comment towards the referee by one of the Widden players, the visitors were marched back 10 metres and Brockworth slotted the penalty for an easy three points. Just before half time Widden birthday boy Craig Smith was sin-binned.
Widden came out firing at the start of second half and the two sides exchanged penalties in the opening minutes for 8-13.
The visitors hammered the Brockworth line and eventually scored through winger Gavin Deane. Fly half Gardner converted for 15-13.
Deane was over for his second a minute later. From deep inside Widden's half the winger chipped and hacked the ball forward and executed a one -handed pick up to finish with a flourish. Gardener converted for 22-13. Widden were soon bearing down on Brockworth's line again; the back row combination of Stu Carroll, Pat Joyce and Mike Massey making the hard carries.
Finally, from a scrum the ball was sent through the back line and James Coopey jinxed over the line for a try, and the conversion made it 29-13. However, Brockworth were far from out of the game, they managed to score in the corner as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
Widden found a way through again as skipper Ben Hannis rounded off the game with a score under the posts. Gardner slotted the last conversion.
This was a vital win on the road for Widden, moving them up to third on the same number of points as second-placed Chipping Sodbury and Dursley in fourth.
Brockworth remain seventh in the table.
