Gordano's winning run comes to an end

Gordano 8 ptsOld Colstonians 44 ptsGORDANO'S seven-match winning run ended with defeat at in the quarter-finals of the Bristol Combination Plate.Missing several experienced forwards against well-organised Gloucestershire Premier League opponents, the home team played almost all the game on the back foot, not a situation they have been used to in recent weeks. When they did get into the Old Boys' 22, they failed to convert pressure into points and were all too vulnerable to the counter-attack.Gordano's only try came in the first couple of minutes, when Dean Ashfield stepped his marker and accelerated through the traffic for an excellent solo try which Tim Coughlan was unable to convert.Old Colstonians quickly hit back with an unconverted try, but then conceded a penalty which Coughlan kicked from 35 metres to make the score 8-5. Weak tackling then let in the Old Boys for two converted tries in quick succession and it became an uphill task. Gordano mounted a series of assaults on the visitors' line and Andy Stevenson came closest to scoring his all-round play deserved, but Colstonians broke out from a scrum on their own line to touch down at the other end. The conversion and a further penalty gave them a 29-8 lead at the break.If the result was in any doubt, a fifth try soon after half-time sealed it. The only blot on the Old Boys' performance was persistent infringement in the tackle area and a second yellow card soon afterwards cost them the services of their hooker. Having lost a prop to injury early on and without another front row replacement, the scrums became uncontested for 10 minutes. Gordano failed to take advantage and the visitors eventually ran in two more unconverted tries.Gordano hope to get back to winning ways in the Somerset League 1 on Saturday, although scheduled opponents Keynsham 2nds failed to fulfil their rearranged fixture with Old Reds who were awarded a walk-over.