Avonmouth (away) 21st February 2015

South West 1 (west)
south-west-1-results-graphicAvonmouth 17pts
Drybrook 16pts

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Drybrook were desperately unlucky not to come away with a victory after dominating possession and territory as well as creating several good scoring opportunities.
The Barrack’s Lane ground was very wet in places with several areas very muddy but Avonmouth made light of the conditions early on to open the scoring.
Drybrook seemed to have staved off an early onslaught but with 5 minutes on the clock they were undone when Avonmouth exploited a gap near half way to race in for the opening try.
Drybrook quickly put this set back behind them and had a good 15 minute spell where Avonmouth did well to keep them out.
With 10 minutes of the half remaining Drybrook reduced the deficit when influential No 8 Mitch Renton drove over for a try following a line out in the corner.
The last 5 minutes of the half belonged to the home side and they had Drybrook defending desperately. Eventually they extended their lead with a penalty from in front of the posts right on the stroke of half time.

Half Time:
Avonmouth Old Boys 10pts
Drybrook 5pts

A good start to the second half led to penalty for a high tackle and Tom Treherne made no mistake from 30 metres.
Relentless Drybrook pressure then followed which they should have made more of but somehow Avonmouth survived.
Drybrook then lost hooker Harry Collins with a ham string pull and the consequent reshuffle disrupted them for a while.
Avonmouth seized the opportunity to launch their only foray into the Drybrook half and after winning a scrum against the head they grabbed a second converted try. This time quick hands and good support created an opening which they exploited to the full.
With 20 minutes left there was plenty of time for Drybrook but they lacked the cutting edge where it mattered the most and consequently several opportunities were missed. Prop Craig Clarke was held up in the in goal area and scrum half Mitch Baldwin was brought down agonisingly short after a neat break.
They did manage one excellent score when phase after phase of attacking led to a try on the overlap from winger Harry Gooderham.
With the minutes ticking away Drybrook looked like they had won it when Kristian Taft got over the line but the ball was lost in the process.
Avonmouth were out on their feet at this stage but won a penalty from the resulting scrum and gratefully cleared.
Drybrook threw everything into attack at the death but their luck deserted them and they were left to reflect on another game that should have brought more reward.

Drybrook; Tom Treherne, Kristian Taft, Harry Gooderham Luke Fisher, Sam Peaper, Ben Large (capt), Mitch Baldwin, Dean Jelf, Harry Collins, Elliot White, Marcus Cowles, Glenn Nott, Danny Price, Mitch Bourne, Mitch Renton.
Replacements; Niall Gibbons, Craig Clarke, Chris Rawlings.

Gloucestershire Reserve League Premier
PREMIER-linkDrybrook United 
Old Centralians

Drybrook United’s double header league and league cup match was disappointingly called off by Old Centralians.
Drybrook are now through to the semi-finals after walk overs in the group over Matson United and now Old Centralians.
They visit Cinderford Stags next week in the last group match with the winners reward being a home semi-final tie.
The losers will have to go away in the semi-final to the winners of the Bristol area group.

Gloucestershire Reserve League North 2
north-2-linkDrybrook Extras 42pts
ConeyHill “B” nil

Coney hill typically started with plenty of aggression, forcing Drybrook to play in their own half but the home defence held up well.
As the game progressed Coney hill started to loose their composure and took exception to some of the refereeing decisions. This led to a total of 3 yellow cards and a red to the visiting team.
Drybrook kept their composure and some strong ball carrying from no 8 Mitch Hale resulted in him scoring 3 tries and the a man of the match award.
Full back Luke Robert looked impressive with the ball in hand and under the high ball and he scored a try for Drybrook with Craig Boughton adding a fifth.
Andy Milner kicked 4 conversions and a penalty.

Drybrook Extras XV; Luke Roberts, Tony Hussey, Jay Knight, Connor Hale, Jake Bourne, Rhys Evans, Andy Milner, Steve Virgo (capt), Craig Boughton, Craig Lancett, Steve Turley, Greg Collins, Ben Waren, Ricahrd Roberts, Mitch Hale.
Replacements; Paul Ballinger, Hugh Rimmer, Tony Suter