Drybrook 11ptsBideford 32pts
Drybrook suffered a massive set back when they went down heavily at home to Bideford when they imploded in the second half and ended a demoralised team.
Drybrook began the game looking really sharp and soon had Bideford defending desperately.
Early on centre Jamie Cook got clean through in midfield only to be called back for a crossing incident that only the referee saw.
Nevertheless Drybrook continued to dominate and took the lead after 9 minutes with a Mitch Baldwin penalty from in front of the Bideford posts. The visitors illegally slowed the ball down at a ruck with a number of Drybrook players lined up on the overlap.
A free flowing move then followed with some delightful inter passing between Ben Large, Alex Bendin and flanker Danny Price which led to the latter crossing for a try near the posts.
Baldwin missed the relatively easy conversion but there was more attacking from Drybrook as they showed some real energy and purpose.
Unfortunately as so often the case this season they were unable to convert this into points by conceding penalties at crucial moments.
Bideford then began to get into the game and kicked a penalty on 25 minutes after Drybrook had illegally pulled down a maul.
Back at the other end Drybrook had two penalty kicks to the corner in an effort to drive over for a try but came up short against a strong Bideford defence.
With the half drawing to a close Bideford showed Drybrook how to do it when they had a similar chance and easily rumbled over in the corner.
Right on the stroke of half time Baldwin had the chance to regain the lead but his long range effort was just wide.
Half Time:
Drybrook 8pts
Bideford 8pts
A good start to the second half led to winger Sam Peaper breaking through but he ignored the supporting players on the overlap and died with the ball.
Next to butcher an opportunity was flanker Niall Gibbons who found himself clear on half way. Instead of taking the sensible option of off loading to winger Alex Bendin who was steaming up on his shoulder, he tried to go it alone and was smothered by the cover.
Drybrook continued to press but began to give too many penalties away for hanging on in the tackle which allowed Bideford to move down field.
Next cam some pure bad luck for Drybrook when Bideford knocked on in a line out and in attempting to gather the ball knocked on again. From the second knock on the ball ricocheted off Sam Peaper’s knee into the hands of a Bideford forward who was somehow allowed to play on and he ran in for a try.
Drybrook substitute Tom Treherne quickly reduced the deficit with a penalty goal but Bideford hit back with a catch and drive try as their forward pack began to get on top.
Suddenly finding themselves chasing the game Drybrook launched an all out attack only to see the visitors intercept on their own 10 metre line before running in for a simple try.
The Drybrook heads visibly dropped after this and their game went to pieces in the last 10 minutes.
Bideford kept their composure as Drybrook just kept running into traffic and at the death the home side were down to 13 men with both Dean Jelf and Tom Treherne in the bin following yellow cards.
The street wise visitors seized the opportunity to drive towards the corner and a simple try resulted.
The final whistle came after the conversion went in off the up right to bring an end to a thoroughly miserable day for the home team.
Drybrook; Kristian Taft, Alex Bendin, Jamie Cook, Jack Simmons, Sam Peaper, Ben Large (capt), Mitch Baldwin, Craig Clarke, Harry Collins, Elliot White, Will Greenway, Glenn Nott, Danny Price, Niall Gibbons, Mitch Bourne.
Replacements; Tom Treherne, Marcus Cowles, Dean Jelf.
