Hat-trick man Everis inspires Tewkesbury to warm-up win (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Hat-trick man Everis inspires Tewkesbury to warm-up win

Brockworth 22, Tewkesbury 28pts

SATURDAY'S combatants competed in Gloucester One last season but now a division separates them but that didn't prevent an entertaining spectacle.

The opening ten minutes was played at a frenetic pace with Tewkesbury in all-out attacking mode only to be thwarted by solid defence and the occasional knock-on.

Brockworth survived the onslaught and managed to break out and surge upfield where they were awarded a penalty that was converted for an early lead.

From the early exchanges in the scrummage, it was going to be a tough afternoon for the Badgers pack.

From one such close-range set-piece, No 8 Shaun Everis picked up and drove over for an opening try that was converted by Eddie Dawe.

It wasn't long before the same player doubled his tally as the visitors exerted their authority in the scrum.

The Tewkesbury man touched down for a third time just before half-time again from a set-piece move off the scrum.

Brockworth deserved their reply on half-time when they exploited a gap down the blindside to score out wide and make it 21-8 at the break.

Whatever was said at the interval clearly inspired Brockworth's start to the second half.

They put pressure on the visitors from the off and were encamped in Tewkesbury's 22 for a long period.

The score they deserved eventually came in the form of a penalty try when a player was illegally blocked.

Tewkesbury regrouped and got back into their stride when, again from a set-piece scrum, the ball was spun through quick hands and centre Dave Randall bulldozed his way over.

Dawe enjoyed a 100 per cent kicking game as he converted all four scores.

Brockworth, though, had the final say when a neat move from their three-quarters ended in a converted try.