Drybrook 42ptsClevedon 10pts
Drybrook put in a very good performance to record a bonus point victory over early season league leaders Clevedon.
The pitch and conditions were ideal for open rugby and Drybrook did well to keep out the visitors after a lively opening.
Clevedon held the territorial advantage for 15 minutes with Drybrook reduced to sporadic raids up field but it was from one such break that they opened the scoring.
A maul was driven over half way and then the home side went through several phases of quick handling which resulted in winger Kristian Taft going over in the corner.
Tom Treherne converted and from the restart Drybrook stunned Clevedon with a second try. Skipper Ben Large made a tremendous break before off loading to supporting flanker Joe Tingle who showed his class by stepping his opponent and breaking clear for a try.
Treherne made it 14pts – nil with another good conversion but all the hard work was undone minutes later when weak mid field defence let the visitors in for a simple try under the sticks.
Drybrook put this set back behind them and were unlucky not to grab a third try when centre Jamie Cook was put through a gap near the posts but the ball was knocked from his grasp.
Remaining patient the home side kept up the pressure and more good handling allowed winger Taft to get his second try when he squeezed in at the corner.
Treherne again added the extras and it was not long before he was called on to add a penalty as Drybrook began to take control.
Desperate defence from the visitors led to their No 8 receiving a yellow card and Treherne made no mistake from his kick virtually in front of the posts.
One man down, Clevedon upped the intensity of their game, and forced Drbrook onto the back foot for a long period. Drybrook managed to hold out and defended a couple of attempted catch and drives from line outs but eventually conceded a penalty which the visitors kicked to complete the first half scoring.
Half time:
Drybrook 24pts
Clevedon 10pts
Drybrook kept up the good work in the second half to score a further 18 unanswered points but found themselves under pressure for the first 15 minutes as a resurgent Clevedon fought back into the game.
However, sound Drybrook defence prevailed and eventually forwards and backs combined to break out as far as the Clevedon 22. From a line out, the forwards and backs combined in a sweeping move that led to winger Sam Peaper touching down in the corner.
Unusually Treherne missed the conversion but made amends minutes later, when Clevedon lost their centre to a yellow card for preventing release of the ball, by converting the resulting penalty.
With a half hour gone some splendid forward pressure led to replacement scrum half Jack Combes grabbing the ball before finding a gap to dive over for a try, duly converted by Treherne.
Almost immediately, Joe Tingle was yellow carded for not releasing and a subsequent Clevedon counter attack was again snuffed out by the Drybrook defence
With the last play of the gamed Clevedon were penalized for holding on and Treherne’s final penalty brought the curtain down on a very good performance from the home side.
Drybrook; Tom Treherne, Sam Peaper, Jamie Cook, , Ben Large (Capt),Kristian Taft, Alun Richards, Mitch
Baldwin, Mitch Hale, Luke Fisher, Dean Jelf, Glen Nott, Neil Morgan, Mitch Bourne, Danny Price, Joe Tingle.
Replacements; Dean Large, Jack Combes, Will Greenway.
