Bridgwater & Albion 22ptsDrybrook 8pts
A disastrous last 10 minutes in which they were reduced to 13 men following 2 yellow cards led to Drybrook losing out in a tight encounter at Bridgwater.
Up until then it was 8pts apiece and anybody’s game but Albion were able to pull clear as Drybrook wilted under the pressure.
Drybrook should have made more of the strong wind advantage in the first half but despite a lot of possession and territory they found the home side difficult to break down.
Tom Treherne came close after 5 minutes when his well struck penalty bounced the wrong way off the upright and then a charged down clearance kick gave Drybrook a line out in the corner.
Unfortunately they gave away a penalty at a crucial point and Albion were able to clear.
More good play from Drybrook forced the home side to defend and with the referee playing advantage they conceded a penalty when skipper Ben Large was given a ticking off for holding onto the ball after a tackle.
Drybrook continued to press but made little progress and it was the home side who eventually broke the dead lock after 32 minutes with a long distance penalty.
Drybrook hit back and a cynical offside gave Treherne the opportunity to level the scores and his penalty sailed between the posts on the stroke of half time.
Half Time:
Bridgwater & Albion 3pts
Drybrook 3pts
Drybrook stated off brightly in the second half but when a promising move broke down Albion were able to punt the ball down field to set up a line out in the corner.
Drybrook halted the initial catch and drive but Bridgwater remained patient and finally crossed for a try after their forwards had gone close on a number of occasions.
From the restart Drybrook forced a line out on the home 22 metre line and a tremendous rolling maul took play right up to the try line where hooker Ashley Howells pounced for the equalising score.
It was anybody’s game after this with both teams playing adventurously and Drybrook’s Aaron Ryder was unlucky to be called back for an earlier infringement when he intercepted in mid field and looked to be in for an easy try.
With 15 minutes left Drybrook second row Will Greenway hobbled off with an ankle injury after putting in a fine shift for his team.
Bridgwater began to see more of the ball and Drybrook did well to keep them out in the corner when a try seemed imminent.
Another Ryder intercept led to him being called back and Joe Tingle did well to steal the Bridgwater ball at the ensuing line out in the corner.
Drybrook back row man Mitch Bourne was then yellow carded and Bridgwater seized the opportunity to apply more pressure which eventually led to a try under the posts after some good switch play in mid field.
Drybrook attempted to hit back with a good spell of attack but conceded another score when the loose ball was gathered and a chip and chase resulted in a try.
There was more than a hint of a forward pass in the build-up and when flanker Danny Price pointed this out to the referee he was a warded a yellow card and forced to join Bourne on the side lines.
With only 13 m3en on the field it was an impossible task for Drybrook but they did well to prevent Albion from grabbing a bonus point try.
Drybrook 1st XV; Tom Treherne, Ben George, Ben Large (capt), Sam Peaper, Mitch Baldwin, Aaron Ryder, Jack Combes, Alex Gibson, Ashley Howells, Mitch Hale, Will Greenway, Glenn Nott, Joe Tingle, Mitch Bourne, Neil Morgan.
Replacements; Danny Price, Joe Miller, Todd Clarke
