Drybrook Rugby Club

Old Redcliffians 5pts
Drybrook 48pts

The Sun was shining on what was the last day of November, Drybrook ladies arrived at Old Redcliffians with 18 players feeling very keen indeed after 4 weeks without a game to find out that Redcliffians had only managed to round up 12 players and no trained front row meaning Drybrook had to match. With only 20 minutes warm up the feeling in the Drybrook camp was positive.
Old Reds kicked off Drybrook dropped the ball backwards but was soon secured on the floor by Chanise Beard the first attack came from Stevie Liddiate, with support play from the rest of the pack. After multiple forward play the backs were given their first chance with the ball. Straight across the line the ball went through the hands of Kat Brain, Jess Hunt, then Ellie Underwood but unfortunately Ellie got caught up in the contact and could not off load in time to winger Sarah Bevan. The ball was turned over and Old Reds had a few phases of play through the forwards which meant Drybrook had to work to defend for the first time, which they did very well indeed.
8 minutes in the ball went out across the backs once again this time Ellie Underwood managed to make the perfect offload within Drybrook own half to release Sarah Bevan for a straight 60 meters foot race to score her first ever try in contact rugby and the first try of the game.
10 minutes in this time it was Ellie that managed to break the defensive line and score a try out wide.
The game was certainly going Drybrook’s way with text book rugby and straight hands the backs had the ball once again across the hands the ball went Ellie made the perfect offload to Sarah Bevan, just as before but a bad judgement call from the linesmen Jim Rugman denied Drybrook of their third try.
The backs had yet another great run with Kara Tucker making at least 40 meters before getting tackled by Old Reds Full Back.

14 minutes in Jess Hunt Drybrooks Number 10 crossed the line making the score 15 – 0 to Drybrook.
Forwards Shelley Bourne, Lucie Smith, Marie Grindle, Micha Harris, Stevie Liddiate and Chanise Beard all worked extremely well together to keep clearing the rucks and creating clean ball for Kat Brain at 9.
18 minutes in Ellie managed to score her second try of the match this time she added 2 points with a conversion to make the score 22 – 0.
30 minutes in, this time it was a chance for the forwards to get on the score board through Marie Grindle with a fantastic try unfortunately leaving 2 of reds players needing treatment for injury on the floor Ellie converts to make the score 29 – 0.
The referee decided enough was enough for the first half and decided to blow up early to give Old Reds chance to recover.
The six replacements was made at half time as follows.
Lucie Smith off – Karina Hall on
Chanise Beard off – Sarah Teague on
Marie Grindle off – Karen Lawrence on
Shelley Bourne off – Nikki Hancock on
Micha Harris off – Hayley Jones on
Kara Tucker off –Beth Powell on
The Second half kicked off from Drybrook now playing up hill they had some work to do with fresh legs on the field they responded well then through a dropped ball Reds had the chance to counter attack and attack they did.
5 minutes into the second half a few Drybrook missed tackles led to a try from Old Reds.
A little shell shocked Drybrook responded very well indeed. With many players playing out of position it took a little getting used to then Karen Lawrence had a break with support from Sarah Teague, Hayley Jones and Karina Hall they managed to gain 15 meters.

10 minutes into the second half Kat Brian managed to score a well-deserved try without the conversion the score was 34 – 5 to Drybrook.
15 minutes a great lineout received by Beth Powell provided a clean ball which went across the backs hands once again giving Julie Ann Norbury a great run to then release Sarah Bevan again this time it was no foot race she swerved in and out Old Reds Backs as if they were standing still to score her second try of the match. Ellie converted the kick to make the score 41 – 5 to Drybrook.
The game was not over Old Reds worked very hard to keep Drybrook away from their try line and refused to give up.
22 minutes into the second half Jess Hunt managed to cross the try line once again for a well worked try with Ellie’s conversion the score was 48 -5,
But Old Reds would not give up despite many players working through injuries and the score line leaning down on them Drybrook found their self’s defending their try line. Each and every player worked hard and put their bodies on the line to make tackle after tackle Nikki Hancock playing a massive part in stopping Old Reds from crossing the line which finally paid off, a bit of light at the end of the tunnel Reds gave away a penalty Jess Hunt kicked the ball to Touch to conclude the game with the final score being 48 – 5 to Drybrook.
Player of the match was Sarah Bevan
Also great to see Kara Tucker back in Drybrook colours
The Squad as follows: Lucie Smith, Chanise Beard, Stevie Liddiate, Marie Grindle, Micha Harris, Shelley Bourne (C) Kat Brain, Jess Hunt, Ellie Underwood, Kara Tucker, Sarah Bevan, Julie-Ann Norbury.
Replacements: Hayley Jones, Nikki Hancock, Karen Lawrence, Sarah Teague, Karina Hall and Beth Powell

Click here for match photographs (Facebook).