Chew Valley (home) 12th April 2014

Western Counties North
Drybrook 37pts
Chew Valley 10pts

Drybrook virtually wrapped up the league title and promotion with this excellent victory over second placed Chew Valley. Mathematically Matson are still in contention going into the last game but it would take an epic points difference swing of 100pts to take the title from Drybrook’s grasp.
The first half was a tense affair with Chew Valley in control for a long period and after 20 minutes a flare up resulted in a player from each side being yellow carded.
A few minutes later Drybrook snatched the lead when they seized on a loose ball on half way. The ball went through several pairs of hand before a clever off load from Mitch Bourne released winger Mitch Baldwin who raced over in the corner.
Ollie Clements converted but it did not take Chew Valley long to hit back.
From the restart they won a penalty in front of the Drybrook posts but elected to take a scrum which resulted in a try being scored which brought the scores level.
Chew continued to have the better of things, but right at the end of the half, Drybrook broke down field and almost grabbed a try. The Chew Valley hooker was yellow carded for hands in the ruck and Clements made no mistake with the kick in front of the posts.

Half Time:
Drybrook 10pts
Chew Valley 7pts

The second half got underway with Chew just missing out with a long range penalty.
The momentum then swung Drybrook’s way as they upped the tempo and began to ask a lot of questions of the Chew defence.
A high tackle on Clements handed the outside half a penalty which he duly drilled over but the visitors hit back on 20 minutes with a penalty in front of the posts.
It was at this stage that Drybrook hit top form when a long period of pressure resulted in hooker Ashley Howells being driven over from close range.
Almost immediately Drybrook scored again when replacement Harry Gooderham seared through a gap after a well rehearsed move to touch down mid way out.
The Chew Valley heads started to drop as they could sense the game moving away from them and Drybrook quickly added the bonus point try.
Fittingly it was skipper Simon Rugman who grabbed the try following a break from Clements who duly added the extras.
There was just enough time for Drybrook to add another try and following immense pressure scrum half Tom Treherne took the final pass to score out wide and Clements converted to complete the scoring.
This was a great performance from Drybrook who were well served by a number of players but man of the match award went to No 8 Mitch Renton.

Drybrook 1st XV; Kristian Taft, Sam Peaper, Ben Large, Simon Rugman (capt), Mitch Baldwin, Ollie Clements, Tom Treherne, Jun Sing Lee, Ashley Howells, Tom Reed, Neil Morgan, Glenn Nott, Mitch Bourne, Dan Price, Mitch Renton.
Replacements; Nick Ovens, Marcus Cowles, Harry Gooderham.

Gloucestershire Reserve League Premier

Old Bristolians ‘A’ 5pts
Drybrook United 18pts

Drybrook made the journey down to Bristol with a bare 15, with some players playing out of position and came away with an admirable victory.
Playing uphill and against a strong wind Drybrook took the game to Old Bristolians offloading in the tackle and with some great support play.
One such break that started in the Drybrook 22, the ball moved through several phases and when Old Bristolians infringed at the breakdown skipper Andy Milner opted to kick to the corner. The successful lineout was brought down and after a series of pick and goes flanker Connor Hale crashed over from close range.
The game became a battle around halfway with neither side able to dominate territory or possession.
A break down the blind side then led to Bristolians scoring in the corner 5 minutes before half time.

With the wind and slope an advantage for Drybrook in the second half they played more of a kicking game to keep Old Bristolians pinned back in their half.
Andy Milner added a long range penalty to give Drybrook the lead, then was called on again to add another 3 points much closer to the posts.
Errors began to creep into both sides play with handling errors and issues at the breakdown resulting in the game becoming fragmented.
Drybrook had the last say of the game when a tap penalty was taken and number 8 Mitch Hale took advantage of some lackluster defence to cross the line with Milner converting.
This was a good performance for Drybrook given the circumstances, there was a tight call for man of the match with Craig Clarke’s scrummaging and ball carrying around the fringes excellent and Aiden Price’s all round performance in the centre was one to catch the eye, but on a day when the Drybrook 8 out scrummaged the oppostion the man of the match award went to Craig Clarke.

Drybrook United XV; Craig Clarke, Connor Auker-Howlett, Antony Suter, James Smith, Joe James, Jack Davis, Connor Hale, Mitch Hale, Kieron Auker-Howlett, Andy Milner, Jack Freeman, Aiden Price, Matty Freeman, Dan Wilce, Quinten Partridge

Drybrook United now play on Wednesday evening in a replay of the combination junior cup quarter final away at Westbury, 6:30 kick off .

Gloucestershire Reserve League North 2

Drybrook Extras 13pts
Longlevens 2nds 28pts

Drybrook fell behind to two early Longlevens tries but they gradually got a foothold in the game and were awarded a penalty try themselves.Tom Maskell converted and added a penalty but the visitors hit back with a third try just before the break.

In the second half Maskell added another penalty for Drybrook but the speedy Longlevens backs made the game safe with 2 more tries.
Towards the end of the game Drybrook’s James Meek was yellow carded and Longlevens had a player dismissed for fighting.

Drybrook Extras XV; Luke Roberts, James Meek, Tony Paull, Tom Maskell, Jay Knight, Jimmy Ryder, Tony Hussey, Ben Venner, Alex Balman,Steve Virgo, Steve Turley, Lee Phelps, Paul Hornchurch, Scott Smith, Richard Roberts
Replacements; Dan Rogers, Iain Murhy, Guy Williams.