Drybrook Rugby Club

Drybrook Extras 15pts
Bream United 29pts

Drybrook could only muster 11 men for the start of this game so it was just as well that Bream brought a large squad to choose from and were able to loan the home team some players.
As it was the game was evenly balanced and played in a very good spirit from start to finish.
Jimmy Ryder made an early break for Drybrook and the home side kept up the pressure until Bream managed to clear their lines.
It was not long before a forward rumble led to Breams opening try and a few minutes later some weak tackling saw the visitors go 14pts clear.
Drybrook’s response was impressive and veteran John Jeffs was just denied a try when he was held up over the line but quick recycling led to temporary squirrel James Cooper squeezing in at the corner.
Tony Hussey was having a good game at scrum half for Drybrook and he almost got a score when he charged down a Bream clearance kick but the ball did not fall kindly for him.

Nevertheless Drybrook kept pressing and prop Craig Boughton crashed over for a well deserved try.
Jimmy Ryder’s conversion rebounded off the upright and with it came the half time whistle.

Half Time:
Drybrook Extras 10pts
Bream United 14pts

Early in the second half Ryder did well to get back and halt a Bream counter attack but a third try resulted for the visitors.
A period of stalemate then followed but eventually a Bream penalty kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Bream’s Andrew Cooper then received a blow to his groin area which caused a certain amount of merriment to both sides and in his frustration he drove his shoe into a litter bin, sending it flying 10 metres into the hedge. This considerable display of skill livened up a slack period in the game and afterwards Drybrook grabbed the try of the game.
Slick handling led to hooker Billy Bowdler receiving the ball out wide and the young man

showed exceptional talent and pace to chip over the cover defence before collecting his own kick to score.
A late Bream try sealed victory for the visitors as the home side began to tire.
For Drybrook Hussey and Ryder were the key players with Gibbs the most impressive of the players loaned from Bream.
The big question was – where was everybody else?
The 11 men who started deserved a pat on the back but they needed some help.

Drybrook Extras XV; John Jeffs, Jack Davies, Jimmy Ryder, Tony Hussey, Neil Ricketts, Billy Bowdler, Craig Boughton, Steve Turley, Iain Murphy,Simon Ballinger, Richard Roberts + 4 Bream players.
Replacement; Jon Mustoe (late in second half)