Playing in a strong and bitterly cold wind, the home team turned early pressure into points when, from a scrum on the visitors 22, they went through several phases before tight head Chris Steward took the ball on the hoof and used his 18st bulk to crash over for the opening try. Skipper Ross Webb converted in style from out wide.

Two minutes later Old Bristolians came back into the game when they slotted a penalty from 30 metres to give them what would transpire to be their only points of the game.

On the quarter mark Newent went further ahead when Fred Nottingham picked up from the base of a scrum and ploughed a penetrating line that created a huge crater in the defence before off loading to scrum half James Dean who side stepped his way under the posts. Webb added the straightforward conversion to give his side a 14 - 3 lead.

The visitors were mustering a stout defence and Newent were struggling to make any headway so Webb elected to take the points on offer by kicking a penalty from the 22. Towards the end of the period, Bristolians had a sustained period of pressure of their own but the Newent defence stood firm and weathered the storm and took play back into opposition territory.

Nearing half time the powerful Newent scrum stole one against the head. The ball was shipped out quickly to Brett Gardner and the speedy and elusive winger just got over near the corner flag to make the interval score 22 - 3.

HT: Newent 22 Old Bristolians 3

The second half was a dour affair where defences reigned supreme such that neither side looked like making a breakthrough. The majority of play was in the middle of the pitch and lacked fluidity as both teams struggled not only with the wind but the constant intervention of the referee.

Newent were desperately seeking the fourth try to give them the bonus point but frustratingly coughed the ball up on more than one occasion when in promising positions. Old Bristolians had plenty of possession and carried the ball well but lacked a cutting edge to pierce the well organised Newent defence.

As the clock wound down it looked as if Newent would have to settle for just the win but things changed in dramatic fashion minutes before the final whistle. Firstly Dean, who had been a thorn in the visitors side throughout the game, picked up from a ruck on the 22 and used his speed and strength to crash over for his second and Newent’s bonus point try. Webb added the deserts.

In the dying moments Newent conjured up a magical try when they ran the ball deep from within their own half and passed the ball through several pairs of hands with fluid precision before Dan Bubb-Sacklyn finished the move off by rounding the defence to score the best try of the match. Webb converted to make the final score 36 - 3.

In the final context the win was well deserved not least because the Newent defence was magnificent and once again shut out the opposition in terms of tries. Newent’s dominance at the scrum ultimately set the platform for victory whilst George Phelps must have covered every blade of grass on the pitch with a high tackle count and fierce contention at the breakdown.

FT : Newent 36 Old Bristolians 3.

Newent : Richard Merrett, Brett Gardner, Charlie Gellert, Ross Webb ( capt ), Will Mansfield, James Dean, Morgan Morris, Luke Williams, Chris Steward, Dan Fletcher, Toby Freeman, James Parker, George Phelps, Fred Nottingham. Replacements : Dan Bubb-Sacklyn, Jamie Meek, Ryan Malone.

Newent scorers : Tries Chris Steward, James Dean (2), Brett Gardner, Dan Bubb-Sacklyn. Con : Ross Webb (4) Pens : Webb (1)