Good battle but came up short

Ashley Down OBs 48 - Cheltenham Civil Service 33
League and Cup double header

Service travelled down the M5 and despite a dodgy postcode Sat Nav nightmare all managed to get to Lockleaze Combination ground in good time.

Such good time, that Ashley Down decided a delayed kick off was in order, as they now play on a single 3g astro pitch and their 2s kicked off late.

ADOBs started the match and didn't manage to capitalise on some kick off errors by service and dominating territory for 10mins. Service were first to score after a few good scrums and ADOBs giving away some soft penalties lead to an option for posts. Matt Branton doing the honours 0-3.

Unfortunately, this fired the opposition up and they opened their account after some lacklustre tackling scoring close to the posts. 7-3.

This pressure and a disjointed defence in the middle saw them get another couple of converted tries before we made a shuffle in the backline bringing on club stalwart Josh Paine into the 12 fray (21-3).

Service then managed to move out of 1st gear and try scorer extraordinaire Jack Simpson, crashed over the whitewash to bring us back into the game. Conversion missed but some belief back in the Service camp.

The service pack now sensing an advantage turned up the heat, this led to our second try courtesy of flyhalf Will Markey forgoing the obvious overlap and with a dummy pass fooling his opposite man and giving him a gap to cross over. Branton adding the extras 21-15.

ADOBs responded via their devilish 13 scoring his second under the posts, after us giving the ball away cheaply. 28-15. 30mins gone.
The close of the half had Service in the driving seat, but us failing to utilise advantage gained by some excellent forward phases, not finding a gap in the middle and possibly missing a trick outside. Half-time.

Second half Service picked up from where we left it and the forwards marched us up the pitch, enabling Jack Simpson to get his next try near the posts rumbling off the back of a ruck. Kick missed putting the game at 28-20 to them.

Momentum swung the other way sadly after some careless penalties by us and some decent support play in attack by them, they opened up their second half tally and scored making it 35-20 and a hard slog to recover. But Service were not done yet finding our pack smashing over their tryline and Guy Howes scoring, Branton adding the 2. 35-27.

ADOBs to their credit capitalised on some poor defensive kicks, soft missed tackles and after throwing the kitchen sink at us penetrated and scored again, with conversion taking again taking them further ahead 42-27 10mins to go. Service with their never say die attitude kept going but gave away too many penalties and gifted them an easy kick penalty for 3 and they cemented the game.

Game finished with them at 45 and us at 33.

Jack Simpson was my man of the match representing the best of the pack in all of his game. Dick of the Day Tim Davis for leaving his match shirt in the changing rooms!

Some decent set piece play and a lot of new faces showing up in the backline, but on the day not enough for the win. However, try bonus point away at Ashley Down not to be underrated by any means. #vls