Hartpury 31pts Drybrook 26pts – Trial Match – 26th August 2016

Moore-hartpury-away

Hartpury 31pts Drybrook 26pts

Drybrooks last pre season game proved to be a great run out for the visitors with both sides contributing to an excellent game of attacking rugby.
Drybrook started the the game with an intensity that was threatening to blow Hartpury out the water. Tim Stevenson pulling the strings at 10 was marshalling his team around the field to great effect, moving the ball at every opportunity. Drybrook should of scored almost immediately after some great play had Drybrook camped on the Hartpury line but with a clear overlap and space to match the visitors tried one drive too many and knocked the ball on.
This only delayed the inevitable as from a Hatpury line out Drybrook stole the ball and Harry Collins took the ball on just short where the excellent Sam Peaper was on hand to go over to make the score 5 v 0.
It was Hartpury’s turn now to put some pressure on Drybrook but Sam Peaper somehow turned the ball over and Stevenson cleared his lines. This would be a feature of the game where Sam Peaper was turning ball over at will. From the resulting line out Drybrook again stole the ball where Greenway and Tingle were reigning supreme. The catch and drive ensued

and Harry Collins crashed over for the try which was converted by Tom Treherne.
Drybrooks 3rd try wasn’t long in coming, another turnover this time by Joe Tingle was quickly recycled wide and somehow Tingle was on the end to score which was converted by Treherne.

Half time:
Drybrook 19pts
Hartpury 0pts

Both sides made changes at half time with Drybrook electing to give everybody a game and Hartpury fielding a stronger team. This galvanised Hartpury who started to move the ball about and put Drybrook under all sorts of pressure. Robbie Faulkner was instrumental in this and a delightful cross field kick was gathered by their winger who cruised home.
Hartpury were now looking dangerous and with Drybrook starting to make a few too many mistakes Faulkner again moved the ball wide for the 15 to gallop through the gaping hole in Drybrook’s defence which was also converted.
Hartpury sensed blood and after a mistake in Drybrook’s midfield, Hartpury’s 9 gathered the ball and streaked home to draw Hartpury level after the conversion was missed in front of the posts.

From the KO Hartpury moved the ball again and their 9 who was now proving a thorn in Drybrook,s side raced away again.
Drybrook were on the ropes now with Hartpury playing fantastically well but Drybrook re grouped and seemed to be well positioned in Hartpury’s 22 but Faulkner again moved the ball wide and Drybrook flashed in midfield and the full back was gone to go the length of the field to score which was converted.
It was Drybrook who had the final say as with the clock ticking Drybrook ran it from their own line and after several phases Lee Nightingale stormed his way through to score which was converted by Treherne
For Drybrook Sam Peaper was outstanding at the breakdown in a back row that will serve Drybrook well. Out behind Stevenson again looked on top of his game with Captain Ben Large causing all sorts of problems for Hartpury in defence and attack.

Drybrook XV: 15 Treherne 14 Taft 13 Howard 12 Large 11 Gardener 10 Stevenson 9 Baldwin 8 Bourne 7 Tingle 6 Peaper 5 Greenway 4 Mulhane 3 Rimmer 2 Collins 1 Nightingale
Subs 16 Jelf 17 Renton 18 Moore 19 Pritchard 20 Bowdler 21 Milner 22 B Collins 23 Rawlings.