Cinderford Stags 9pts
Drybrook United 20pts
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Drybrook United were crowned champions after a strong second half performance took the game away from Cinderford at a wet and windy Dockham Road.
The home side went into the lead with a penalty after 7 minutes but Drybrook’s skipper Andy Milner drew his side level when he drilled a long range effort between the sticks 5 minutes later.
Defences were very much on top in the first half and the next time Cinderford went ahead with a penalty Milner soon drew his side level again with another kick drilled low into the wind.
Cinderford looked to have broken the deadlock when a strong driving maul on 30 minutes took play right up to Drybrook’s line but the visitors just held out.
A late tackle then gave Cinderford a penalty which they kicked to go into the lead once more but Milner was off target just before the interval as Drybrook looked to close the gap.
Half Time:
Cinderford Stags 9pts
Drybrook United 6pts
Drybrook started the second period in determined fashion and began to get on top mainly through their aggressive forward unit in which No 8 Neil Morgan was a key player
Neil Morgan: Man of the match.
constantly driving his pack forward.
Milner pulled Drybrook level with his third penalty after 11 minutes and then came the only try of the game. Drybrook won a free kick after Cinderford were penalised for a crooked feed and the ball was moved out quickly to left winger Rhys Evans who squeezed in at the corner.
The Stags hit back strongly and were awarded a penalty in front of the Drybrook posts but scrum half Danny Parry decided to take it quickly and knocked on the process.
Drybrook were able to clear down field and from then they took a stranglehold on the game as Cinderford began to tire.
A fourth Milner penalty after 24 minutes extended Drybrook’s lead and then the hosts lost a player to the bin after Drybrook prop Tony Suter was illegally brought down after a bulldozing run into the heart of the defence.
Drybrook’s pack kept pressing with Mitch Hale, Glenn Nott, Joe James and Morgan driving relentlessly forward and another penalty resulted which Milner gratefully accepted on 34 minutes.
There was no way back for the Stags and despite throwing everything into attack they were met with some fierce tackling from Drybrook.
It was a very proud Andy Milner who lifted the cup for Drybrook, and an equally proud Neil Morgan who deservedly picked up the man of the match accolade.
Drybrook United XV; Andy Milner (Capt), Rhys Evans, Mitch Baldwin, Gareth Holdsworth, Luke Roberts, Chris Rawlings, Kieran Auker-Howlett, Tony Suter, Ashley Howells, Mitch Hale, Glen Nott, Joe James, Jim Rugman, Connor Hale, Neil Morgan.
Replacements; Craig Moore, James Smith, Jack Freeman, Craig Boughton.
Neil Morgan: Man of the match.