Drybrook Rugby Club

Visiting Hereford outscored the home team by 3 tries to 2 in this opening game of the season. The match was played in four, twenty minute sessions on a near perfect surface in front of a large appreciative crowd.

Drybrook used a large pool of players throughout the game and did well in the most part but on occasions they struggled especially at the scrummage.

In the first quarter Hereford opened strongly but Drybrook quickly settled and began to get a foot hold. A neat break from flanker Danny Price should have led to a try but with only one man to beat, the supporting Mitch Baldwin just failed to hold on to his inside pass.

Continued Drybrook pressure finally told right at the end of the session when Baldwin broke through a gap for the opening try which Tom Treherne converted.

Hereford had a player yellow carded for dissent following the conversion.

The second quarter was all Hereford as Drybrook made wholesale changes and the side found it difficult to contain the free flowing visitors.

Drybrook’s Danny Price and his opposite number were yellow carded following a scuffle and the first Hereford try came quickly afterwards. It was soon followed by a second try, this time under the posts, after some good off loading and inter-passing.

Towards the end of the session Hereford scored a third try when turnover ball on half way was moved quickly to outflank the Drybrook cover.

A fourth Hereford try should also have been scored but they made a real mess of an overlap as the session drew to a close.

The third session was a war of attrition, remaining scoreless, and although the Drybrook forwards struggled to match their opponents they competed well in the loose and made a real fight of it.

Dean Large made his debut at prop forward and did well considering he has had such a long period out through injury.

The final session was all Drybrook as they looked to get back on terms. Neil Morgan was held up in the in goal area but the pressure eventually paid off when prop forward Dean Jelf went over for a try.

Treherne’s conversion brought the home side back to within one score and they were unlucky not to get on level terms when Ben Large was held up in the in goal area.

Continued pressure should have brought an equalising score but Drybrook failed to make any impression from a series of 5 metre scrums.

From one scrum Hereford were awarded a penalty and they gratefully cleared up field to secure the win.

Drybrook starting line up: Tom Treherne, Sam Peaper, Jamie Cook, Joe Miller, Kristian Taft, Ben Large (Capt), Mitch Baldwin, Dean Jelf, Ashley Howells, Mitch Hale, Glen Nott, Will Greenway, Danny Price, Mitch Bourne, Neil Morgan.

Remaining squad used; Aaron Ryder, Jack Freeman, Joe Watts, Matt Freeman, Andy Milner, Chris Rawlings, Kieran Auker-Howlett, Craig Bougton, Luke Fisher, James Smith, Dean Large, Jack Sharpley, Joe James, Alex Smales.