Cullompton 17ptsDrybrook 29pts
This bonus point win at bottom placed Cullompton meant Drybrook ended above the relegation zone to ensure another season in South West One.
Drybrook started the game well and had a strong wind advantage to begin with but Cully defended strongly on the rock hard surface.
With only 7 minutes gone Drybrook produced a very strong drive from a lineout in the corner and with No 8 Mitch Renton looking certain to score, the home side transgressed, leaving the referee with no option than to award a penalty try.
Tom Treherne added the simple conversion but from then it was the home side who got on top.
Drybrook had to defend a lot of attacks and then a nasty ankle injury sustained by Cullompton’s outside half after 13 minutes led to a lengthy delay.
An hour passed by the time the medical services, which incuded the Devon Air Ambulance, were able to attend to the stricken player.
Play then resumed and Cullompton retained pressure on Drybrook and eventually scored in the corner.
Drybrook hit back immediately with the best move of the game which saw the ball moved wide on half way to winger Cameron Roberts. The talented wing man did the rest by cruising past several defenders to score near the posts.
Treherne’s conversion gave Drybrook a healthy lead but they were unable to add to it as the game began to stagnate towards the end of the half.
Half Time:
Cullompton 5pts
Drybrook 14pts
Drybrook looked much sharper at the start of the second half and wave after wave of attacks finally ended with second row Will Greenway crashing over for a try.
Minutes later Drybrook’s scrum half Mitch Baldwin slipped a pass to Roberts down the blind side of an unprotected maul on half way and the wing man cruised in for Drybrook’s bonus point score.
A spate of injuries then led to Drybrook losing 3 big forwards in quick succession with Renton and Greenway quickly followed to the dug out by Rick Cottrell.
The consequent reshuffle disrupted Drybrook’s rhythm for a while but they were unlucky not to add a fifth try when winger Sam Peaper’s pass to Baldwin was adjudged forward.
Drybrook continued to boss the game and eventually scored again when prop Mitch Hale broke through a tackle before crashing over the line.
With 10 minutes to go the home side seized on a loose ball when another Drybrook attack broke down and they ran in for a try from the half way line.
Just after the home side put together their best attack and quick hands and good support led to a score under the Drybrook sticks.
Drybrook ensured Cullompton’s chance of a come back was halted by monopolizing possession in the last few minutes to see the game out.
Despite having a number of regulars sidelined by injury, Drybrook still played well with No 8 Mitch Renton and winger Cameron Roberts the stand out performers.
Drybrook ended the campaign by winning 12 and drawing one of their 26 games in this very competitive division.
Drybrook; Tom Treherne, Sam Peaper, Kristian Taft, Jack Simmons, Cameron Roberts, Ben Large (Capt), Mitch Baldwin, Mitch Hale, Luke Fisher, Elliot White, Will Greenway, Neil Morgan, Danny Price, Rik Cottrell, Mitch Renton.
Replacements; Chris Rawlings, Ashley Howells, Glenn Nott.
