Midsomer Norton 21pts
Drybrook 26pts
A try five minutes from time secured Drybrook a bonus point victory at lowly Midsomer Norton who had clawed their way back into the game to draw level just before.
It was a far from convincing performance from Drybrook who spent most of the second half starved of possession by a beefy home pack who reveled in the wet and gloomy conditions.
Norton took an early lead with a penalty goal after 2 minutes and continued to keep Drybrook penned in their own half. Drybrook put themselves under pressure on a number of occasions by trying to run the ball from deep but eventually they established a good platform and began to move up field.
With their first real attacking move Drybrook scored a spectacular try when some great support play was rewarded as scrum half Ben George took the final pass to scamper over under the posts.
Tom Treherne converted but missed a straightforward penalty kick minutes later when the ball rebounded off the upright.
It was all Drybrook at this stage and they were unlucky on a couple of occasions when they were bundled into touch just short of the line.
With 30 minutes gone Norton kicked a second penalty but Drybrook hit straight back with a second try when flanker Sam Peaper took the ball at speed and crashed over the line.
Treherne converted but with the half drawing to a close the home side kicked another penalty goal to keep themselves in the hunt.
Half Time:
Midsomer Norton 9pts
Drybrook 14pts
Drybrook started the second half in a very positive mood and scored another try after two minutes when industrious flanker Danny Price sneaked over in the corner and ran round to the posts to make the conversion a formality for Treherne.
To their credit the home side did not give up and the game then took a sudden turn as the home pack took control to starve Drybrook of possession.
Norton began to grow in confidence and demolished the Drybrook scrum on a number of occasions. It seemed only a matter of time before they would grab a try and they duly did after 20 minutes following a lot of forward pressure near the Drybrook line.
As the conditions worsened Norton got stronger and ground Drybrook down with some good old fashioned driving play.
With 12 minutes remaining Drybrook lost Mitch Renton to the sin bin after the home side had been awarded a string of penalties which they kept kicking to the corner to try and drive over the line.
Eventually a scrum was awarded and the home side scored the easiest of pushover tries and the successful conversion brought the sides level.
Finally Drybrook showed some urgency and with only 5 minutes left they were on the attack and with the referee signaling advantage after a home misdemeanor, skipper Ben Large put in a perfectly weighted chip for Mitch Baldwin to run onto for a try in the corner.
There was still time for the home side who gave Drybrook a couple of nervous moments which included a yellow card for Peaper but the visitors did enough to hang on for victory.
Drybrook 1st XV: Tom Treherne, Harry Howard, Kristian Taft, Mitch Baldwin, Rhys Gardner, Ben Large(Capt), Ben George, Huw Rimmer, Ashley Howells, Alex Wolfe, Mitch Renton, Glenn Nott, Sam Peaper, Danny Price, Mitch Bourne.
Replacements: Nathan Tucker, Nigel Ncube, Will Greenway
