Drybrook 35ptsBideford 26pts
Drybrook played their best rugby of the season for the first 50 minutes of this game but then almost threw it away with a poor show later on.
From the first minute Drybrook made their intention known when they moved the ball wide to winger Cameron Roberts who cruised in at the corner with Tom Treherne adding the conversion.
Roberts looked dangerous every time he got his hands on the ball and the perfect conditions led to him playing a prominent role in Drybrook’s high tempo performance.
Bideford hit the post with a long range penalty attempt but Drybrook scrambled clear and raced down field where Treherne increased their lead with a penalty.
Lots of Drybrook pressure should have brought further reward but over eagerness led to some silly mistakes until centre Robbie Faulkner grabbed the second try.
The silky centre combined with Roberts down the left wing and took the return pass to glide over in the corner.
Drybrook kept up the pressure but despite some good attacking play they were unable to add to the score.
Half Time:
Drybrook 18pts
Bideford nil
Drybrook started the second where they left off in the first and within minutes flanker Danny Price touched down from a well executed catch and drive in the corner.
Trailing by 25pts Bideford were facing a big defeat but they hit back with a similar catch and drive try from a line out.
Some enterprising play from Drybrook almost brought a second try for Roberts but the powerful winger was just denied with a last ditch tackle in the corner.
Within minutes though Roberts did get his second try and Drybrook’s bonus point score when a lovely break from scrum half Mitch Baldwin created the space for him to cross in the corner.
Treherne’s well struck conversion gave Drybrook a seemingly unassailable lead and they rang the changes by throwing on all the replacements.
The visitors had other ideas however and struck back with a vengeance and almost got themselves back into it.
Within minutes Bideford added 2 converted tries both as a result of some beautiful attacking play coupled with some poor defence from Drybrook.
Suddenly it was game on and Drybrook were relieved to extend their lead with a penalty from Treherne.
A further problem for Drybrook came when Joe Tingle was yellow carded for pulling down an attacking maul and Bideford made the advantage count by trundling over for a bonus point score from a catch and drive in the corner.
As soon as Tingle re-joined the fray Bideford lost a man to the bin which enabled the home side to end the game the stronger side and they were unlucky not to extend their lead when a Treherne penalty re bounded off the upright,
Drybrook XV; Tom Treherne, Sam Peaper, Ben Large (Capt), Robbie Faulkner, Cameron Roberts, Tim Stevenson, Mitch Baldwin, Joshua James, Mitch Renton, Mitch Hale, Will Greenway, Glenn Nott, Mitch Bourne, Danny Price, Joe Tingle.
Replacements; Kristian Taft, Ashley Jennings, Alex Wolfe,
