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Drybrook made hard work of overcoming Gordon League in a game where they were constantly penalized and were consequently unable to get into any sort of rhythm.
League slowed the game down wherever possible but in the end Drybrook’ superior fitness and organization won the day.
The home side made the early running and make good use of the Hempstead Lane slope with a strong wind also to their advantage.
Drybrook weathered the storm and patiently worked up field and spent a lot of time in the League half.
With 20 minutes gone Drybrook were held up over the home line but from the resulting scrummage No 8 Liam Jackson picked up and drove over to score.
Fullback Mitch Baldwin added the conversion but the remainder of the half proved fairly uneventful with a series of long injury stoppages coupled with some stop start rugby not helped by constant infringement from both teams.
Half Time: Gordon League nil Drybrook 7pts
Drybrook were quickly out of the blocks in the second half and with only 2 minutes on the clock prop forward Nick Ovens latched onto a loose line out ball on half way and raced 35 meters before being brought down. The ball was quickly recycled and fed out on the overlap to centre Luke Fisher who cruised in for a simple try.
Gordon League then had a good spell and opened up their account with a penalty on 20 minutes but after this frustration crept into Drybrook’s play as they could do nothing to please the referee.
Every time Drybrook looked like getting back on top they were sent backwards with yet another penalty and with 15 minutes to go they lost hooker Craig Clarke to the sin bin for not retreating quickly enough.
Despite this set back Drybrook rallied strongly and Ben Large brought them to within striking distance of the home line with a great break.
A penalty finally came Drybrook’s way but Baldwin was unlucky to see his effort bounce the wrong way off the upright.
Drybrook were able to kept League penned back and were finally rewarded when Jackson scored his second following a rolling maul.
Drybrook team: Mitch Baldwin, Rory Day, Simon Rugman (capt), Luke Fisher, Sam Peaper, Ben Large, Danny Griffiths, Nick Ovens, Craig Clarke, Tom Reed, Rich Cottrell, Marcus Cowles, Dan Price, Lee Ward, Liam Jackson.
Substitutes; Mitch Renton, Jun Sing Lee, Chris Rawlings
