WITH a pre-season target of promotion set by the players and management, Greyhound knew that an early defeat could see their hopes vanish.

Greyhound got off to a winning start at St Brendans Old Boys, despite an injury to promising youngster Mikey Weaver.

They then won the next four games, and conceded only eight points.

A fiery encounter at Tredworth saw Greyhound’s first league loss of the season and, perhaps more significantly, a long-term injury to full-back Darren Braithwaite.

This set-back was further compounded by a home loss to Bristol side Cotham Park before Greyhound bounced back to beat Gloucester Civil Service, mainly thanks to a match-winning performance by scrum-half Adam Preece, and then Minchinhampton.

The journey to Cotham Park, with a full squad, proved to be the turning point for the season.

An early score from in-form centre Elliot Phillips and a penalty from the boot of ever-present Patrick Hill was followed by a great defensive effort for the final 25 minutes, to snatch an important away win.

The much anticipated top-of-the-table clash with Tredworth at the City Sports Club, saw a superb individual performance by Lee Simpson.

He capped a fine display with a try scored while carrying three would-be tacklers over the line.

There was also a solid defensive performance from the Greyhound pack.

Simpson then put in two of the biggest tackles of the season, right on the try-line, which galvanised the home defence and helped secure a vital 14-8 win.

Greyhound romped to a record 96-0 home thumping of Gloucester All Blues, with Phillips scoring five of the Dogs’ tries. Mark Austin rampaged through the All Blues forwards at will.

Greyhound then beat Wotton and the improving St Brendans Old Boys before sealing promotion with a dramatic 13-12 win at Minchinhampton in their penultimate league match.

Minchinhampton absorbed early pressure and then proved to be stern opposition while taking and keeping the lead until the final play of the game in monsoon-like conditions.

Adam Preece popped up, this time in the unaccustomed position of flanker, and earned a penalty deep in the opposition 22.

The resulting line-out was taken cleanly and from a rolling maul, hooker David Wargen broke several tackles to score Greyhound’s most important try of the season.

Skipper Hill stepped up to slot the extra points and the referee immediately blew for full-time to spark jubilant scenes from the visiting players, management and supporters.

Greyhound’s outstanding front-row during the season consisted of John Smith, George West, Matt Davies and Wargen, along with the experienced Stuart Berry, while the ever-improving Ollie Bird, along with Austin, out-muscled stronger opposite numbers. Scrum-half Chris Morris, proved a handful. Hill had another consistent year, combining the pressures of captain and goal-kicker and leading the scoring charts for the season, while marshalling the ever-improving three-quarter line. Phillips’ move from wing to centre proved a success story, while the experienced Kevin Bufton took the chance at full-back and performed commendably through the second half of the season.

One of the finds of the season was Mikey Weaver, who despite his inexperience at senior rugby and a serious injury in his first game, took his chances when they arose. Joe Morris caused the selectors headaches with consistent performances both on the field and at training. The heroes in Greyhound’s back-row unit of Jamie Gibbons, Simpson, Chris Sabel, Martin Ackery and Matt Gwynne, took the game to every opposing side.

Greyhound’s results in Gloucester 3: St Brendans Old Boys (A) 26-0, Wotton (H) HWO, Gloucester All Blues (A) 21-0, Bristol Telephones (A) 35-0, Pilning (H) 36-8, Tredworth (A) 3-22, Cotham Park (H) 15-22, Gloucester Civil Service (A) 34-20, Minchinhampton (H) 58-0, Cotham Park (A) 8-5, Tredworth (H) 14-8, Bristol Telephones (H) 43-0, Pilning (A) AWO, Gloucester All Blues (H) 96-0, Wotton (A) 18-0, St Brendans Old Boys (H) 25-22, Minchinhampton (A) 13-12, Gloucester Civil Service (H) HWO.