Drybrook 31ptsNorth Petherton 25pts
Drybrook did their survival hopes the power of good with this bonus point victory over 6th placed North Petherton.
The game was not without its worrying moments for Drybrook who almost conspired to throw it away in the last ten minutes after seemingly cruising towards victory at 31pts – 13pts ahead.
The visitors opened the scoring after 8 minutes with a penalty but Drybrook showed their intent with a quick response when a line out in the corner led to flanker Danny Price touching down for a slick try.
Two minutes later Drybrook scored a second try with a move that started deep inside their own half. Several off loads later and winger Jamie Cook took the final pass to race over in at the corner.
20 minutes in Pethy reduced the arrears with a penalty but Drybrook were denied just after when second row Rick Cottrell had a perfectly good try disallowed.
Towards the end of the half errors began to creep into Drybrook’s play and the visitor’s started to get a foot hold.
On the stroke of half time North Petherton were on the attack but a timely interception from Drybrook winger Cameron Roberts led to a try under the Petherton posts and Tim Stevenson easily added the conversion.
Half Time:
Drybrook 17pts
North Petherton 6pts
Drybrook started the second half in confident fashion and their enterprise was rewarded with the bonus point try after 2 minutes when flanker Mitch Bourne crossed near the posts with Stevenson adding the extras.
The hard ground and perfect conditions suited Drybrook’s game and more pressure led to a yellow card for the visitor’s flanker when he halted a quickly taken tap penalty with a trip.
With 10 minutes of the half gone Drybrook needlessly tried to run out of their own 22 metre area and turnover ball led to a try in the corner for North Petherton.
Despite this set back Drybrook responded positively and quick hands led to Stevenson putting Roberts through the gap for his second try and the successful conversion put Drybrook 31pts – 13pts ahead.
With such a big lead and with the team playing at the top of their game one would have expected Drybrook to have cruised to a comfortable victory.
However a combination of some poor play from Drybrook and a late rally from the visitors led to a nervous last 10 minutes for the home club.
The Drybrook backs stood off a North Petherton attack to let in a simple try at the corner and with only 5 minutes left the visitors scored again.
This time a clearing penalty kick did not find touch and the Somerset men swept forward to again exploit some weak tackling by the Drybrook backs.
With only a minute left Tom Treherne had the chance to make the game safe for Drybrook with a penalty but it drifted wide and the home side were relieved to close the game out to secure victory.
Tim Stevenson was Drybrook’s man of the match with winger Cameron Roberts also impressing on his debut.
Drybrook; Kristian Taft, Cameron Roberts, Jack Simmons, Ben Large (Capt) Jamie Cook, Tim Stevenson, Mitch Baldwin, Craig Clarke, Luke Fisher, Elliot White, Will Greenway, Rik Cottrell, Danny Price, Mitch Bourne, Mitch Renton.
Replacements; Tom Treherne, Neil Morgan, Dean Jelf.
