Semi-final spots Quartet clinch places in last four of national cups
FOUR county sides are 80 minutes from a Community Cup final after booking semi-final spots on Saturday.
Drybrook will host Trowbridge in the Regional 2 South Plate on Saturday after their 52-14 win over Thornbury, Mitch Baldwin leading the way with a hat-trick of tries.
Sonny Greenman set them on their way with two penalties, but Thornbury led 7-6 with a converted try.
Drybrook regained the lead with another Greenman penalty, 9-7 the half-time score.
But they started the second half superbly as Baldwin scored his first try and quickly added a second, Greenman’s conversion making it 21-7.
Baldwin, completed his hat-trick on 60 minutes. Greenman adding the extra two points, and next on the scoresheet was scrum-half Sam Moreton-smith.
Thornbury were able to add to their score with a converted try but Drybrook finished the game strongly.
Dean Jelf scored a fine solo effort, Andy Milner adding the conversion, with Cai Rogers and Luke Roberts getting in on the act, Tom Treherne adding a conversion.
Longlevens also have home advantage in the Counties 1 Championship, hosing KCS Old Boys after their 25-19 win over Nailsea & Backwell.
Joshua Stratton, Matthew Smith and Tom Barton got their tries, Brad Wilkins with two conversions and two penalties.
Smiths go to Bristol Saracens in the Counties 2 South Plate on Thursday evening - their opponents agreeing to move the game as Smiths have the Cheltenham Combination Cup final on Saturday - after they beat Hucclecote 47-19.
Mitch Renton (two), Marcus Raymond, Ben Hawker, Tayler Johnstone, Adam Ginns and John Bryant scored their tries, with Marcus Raymond converting six times.
Sam Limbrick, Charles Cooke and Max Marshall went over for Hucclecote, Josh Mcgill with two conversions.
Cirencester are on the road to Avonmouth Old Boys in the Counties 2 South Shield after their narrow 16-14 win against Dursley.
Tommy Woodward scored their only try with the rest of the points from the boot of Will Lowe, the game doubling up as part of the Stroud Combination Senior Cup round-robin.
Cirencester and Dursley now have a win each in that competition, with Cirencester yet to face Stroud.
Newent and Stow-on-the-wold missed out on semi-final places in the Regional 2 Championship.
Newent were beaten 29-22 by Royal Wootton Bassett, who went through by a point.
Mason Emery touched down for the first try of the game before one of Newent’s most influential players, Ben Vincent limped off.
Tom Webb kicked a penalty to make it 8-0, but after a yellow card for Jacob Ivell, RWB cut the gap with a try.
But Newent led 15-5 at half-time as Dan Fletcher crashed over and Webb made no mistake with the conversion.
The visitors who were to strike in the second half with a converted try, and added another which put RWB into the lead for the first time at 19-15.
They extended that further with another converted try and a drop goal to make it 29-15.
Newent did not lie down and after a scrum penalty, a quick tap was taken and Will Tanner scored close to the posts, Webb converting.
With a few minutes remaining, another try would give them a second bonus point, which would take them into the semi-final, but Bassett held out.
Stow finished second in Pool 2, behind Northampton Old Scouts, after edging out Long Eaton 36-35
Zebedee Waite, Ben Collett, Rhys Edwards, Cameron Tyler and Toby Stayt scored their tries, with Charlie Slatter kicking four conversions and a penalty.
Old Patesians lost to Saltash in the Counties 2 Championship, going down 38-26 despite two tries for Johnny Fenley and one for Lucas Town, Sam Rhymes with two conversions and three penalties.