Matson (away) 10th January 2015

South West 1 (west)
south-west-1-results-graphicMatson 5pts
Drybrook 11pts

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Drybrook secured their third consecutive win on the road with this well earned victory at Matson’s Redwell Road Ground.
The pitch was very wet in places with sticky mud making it difficult for the players to stay on their feet or get any sort of purchase so it was always going to come down to a forward contest.
In this department Drybrook had the edge with a solid line out and scrum and their heavier pack dictated for long periods of the game. Even so they had to dig deep at the end to keep Matson from snatching a win.
Playing up the slope in the first half Drybrook made most of the running and went close several times in the opening 10 minutes before Tom Treherne finally put them in front with a penalty.
Matson missed a relatively easy shot at goal after 15 minutes but kept up the pressure which resulted in a somewhat fortuitous try. Drybrook seemed to have secured a lineout near their own line but the ball went loose and Matson were able to score down the short side.
Minutes later Drybrook were on the attack again and Matson lost a player to the bin for killing the ball and this gave the visitors the edge they needed. A succession of pick and goes and some excellent driving eventually led to hooker Luke Fisher claiming the try under a pile of players.
Drybrook continued to pile forward after this but sometimes it was easier to defend than attack as the slippery ball and heavy conditions made their mark on the game.
Matson lost another player to a yellow card after 30 minutes but Treherne fluffed the resulting penalty from near the posts and minutes later Drybrook made a mess of another penalty award from a similar position.
This time they elected to take it quickly but were smothered by the home defence.
Drybrook’s slender half time lead was insufficient reward given their wealth of possession and territory.

Half Time:
Matson 5pts
Drybrook 8pts

It was much the same pattern in the second half though Matson did begin to see more of the ball and Drybrook did well to keep them out early on.
The only good try scoring chance of the half came when Drybrook skipper Ben Large took a quick tap penalty and made a lot of ground before putting Treherne through the gap. The full back was hauled down just short but the support was lacking and Matson were able to clear.
Drybrook deservedly increased their lead when the Matson backs were caught offside and Trehene put over the penalty and for a period it looked as though a comfortable win was on the cards.
Matson had other ideas and threw everything at Drybrook in the last few minutes and came close several times but aggressive counter rucking and mauling kept them out.
Drybrook did lose second row Marcus Cowles to the bin towards the end but they kept their composure to grind out the win.
Drybrook’s pack deserves a lot of praise for their performance with Niall Gibbons and Rich Cottrell providing a solid lineout performance. Elsewhere Elliot White, Mitch Renton and Marcus Cowles kept them going forward with some great driving play ably supported by their colleagues.

Drybrook; Tom Treherne, Harry Gooderham, Kristian Taft, Jack Simmons, Sam Peaper, Ben Large (capt), Mitch Baldwin, Mitch Renton, Luke Fisher, Elliot White, Marcus Cowles, Glenn Nott, Danny Price, Niall Gibbons, Rich Cottrell.
Replacements; Will Greenway, Harry Collins, Dean Jelf.

 

Gloucestershire Reserve League Premier
PREMIER-linkDrybrook United 21pts
Cleve 2nds 7pts

Veteran Chris Rawlings put in a man of the match performance to inspire Drybrook United to this well earned victory. The Bristol visitors started the brightest and scored their only try after 10 minutes but Drybrook gradually got into the game and began to assume control.
On 30 minutes Rawlings scored his first try of the game when he threw an outrageous dummy before powering through the gap for a try under the posts. Andy Milner converted to give Drybrook a slender advantage at the break.

Half time:
Drybrook United 7pts
Cleve United 5pts

Drybrook kept up the pressure in the second half and Mitch Hale was next to score when he finished off some good approach work from brother Connor and Milner added the extras.
Drybrook continued to play well but Cleve proved to be difficult to break down until they lost 2 players to the sin bin near the end and Rawlings capitalised by cutting a good line to go over for his second try which Milner improved.
This was a good team performance from Drybrook who were unlucky to lose second row Ashley Nelmes in the pre-match warm up with Mitch Hale, Nick Lewis and Neil Morgan pushing Rawlings hard for the man of the match accolade.

Drybrook United XV; Andy Milner (capt), Matt Freeman, Gareth Holdsworth, Tony Hussey, Luke Roberts, Chris Rawlings, Kieran Auker-Howlett, Mitch Hale, Andy Warren, Tony Suter, James Smith, Joe James, Nick Lewis, Connor Hale, Neil Morgan.
Replacements; Jack Freeman, Craig Moore, Connor Auker-Howlett.

Gloucestershire Reserve League North 2
north-2-linkBream United 24pts
Drybrook Extras 24pts

With Drybrook’s league opponents Painswick pulling out of the scheduled fixture through a lack of players the Extras were fortunate to pick up a game at Bream 2nds.
Drybrook started well from the off with several driving mauls and the line out working well despite the windy conditions. Not long into the game former Drybrook 1st XV skipper John Jeffs, now playing for Bream, was shown a red card after a punch up.
The first halfwent Drybrook’s way with stand in scrum half Kane hale scoring a try hat trick from close range with the help of the dominant pack Fly half Rhys Evans impressively drop kicking 3 conversion due to the weather as well as adding a penalty.

Half Time :
Bream United 7 pts
Drybrook Extras 24pts

The second half was a different story, with Drybrooks defence out wide missing several tackles and Bream’s confidence grew as a result. They capitalised on poor defending scoring 2 converted tries and a penalty to bring the score level.
Man of the match has to go to scrum half Hale , for scoring 3 tries and having a good game playing out of position .

Drybrook Extras; Quentin Partridge, Jay Knight, Jack Davis, Craig Boughton, Adam Harris, Rhys Evans, Kane Hale, Lee Phelps, Steve Virgo (capt), Craig Lancett, Steve Turley, Chris Skelton, Simon Ballinger, Ben Phelps, Richie Roberts.
Replacements; Ben Warren, Jake Bourne, Jon Mustoe