If there were photo finishes in rugby matches, then you’d almost certainly need one on Sunday when Drybrook and Newent go into battle in the Forest of Dean Combination Senior Cup final at Bream (3pm).

There really is nothing to choose between the two teams.

They finished level on 78 points in South West One West with third-placed Drybrook just getting their noses ahead on games won – 16 to Newent’s 15. Newent finished fifth with the two clubs split by Matson.

The head-to-heads ended with honours even with Drybrook making a home advantage count when they won 21-17 on December 10th and Newent gaining revenge on April 8th when they recorded a 22-12 victory.

“It really is too close to call,” admitted Drybrook chairman Paul Mason. “I think it will come down to who performs best on the day. The teams are so evenly matched.”

Newent are the holders and Mason added: “It will mean a lot if we can win the cup. There’s always plenty of interest in these games and this match is important for both clubs.”

Newent head coach Andy Addis has a busy weekend because he is also Gloucestershire’s team manager and will be on duty for the county’s county championship opener against Devon at Cleve tomorrow.

Like Mason he is expecting a very close game on Sunday.

“It shows the strength of club rugby in the area,” he said. “Two clubs who are only seven or eight miles apart – there’s plenty resting on it.”

Newent finished third in South West One West in 2015/16 but made a slow start to this campaign when they were hit by injuries and unavailabilites.

The fact that they have managed to finish the season in fifth is, Addis believes, a testament to their team spirit.

“Everybody pulls together and it’s a real strength,” he said. “Some teams might have let their heads drop when things weren’t going their way but not this lot, they just kept on going.”

Addis, who can still remember the days when he first joined the club and they were at the bottom of Gloucester One, is keen that coaches, Peter Kingston and Ross McMillan, are given credit for the team’s ongoing success.

“They are two fantastic coaches,” he said. “They do so much work for the club and so much of what we achieve is down to them.”

FOREST OF DEAN COMBINATION CUP FINAL DATES

Saturday, May 6
Junior Cup final: Cinderford Stags v Drybrook 2nds, at Newent, 3pm

Sunday, May 7
Senior Cup final: Newent v Drybrook, at Bream, 3pm