Drybrook 21ptsNewent 17pts
Drybrook took the honours against neighboring Newent at a packed but wet Mannings Ground.
The home side suffered 4 yellow cards during the encounter and were twice down to 13 men but they dug deep when it mattered to overcome the odds.
The first 10 minutes were fast and furious as both teams sounded each other out but the pouring rain began to have an effect with several players unable to hang on to the slippery ball.
Tim Stevenson missed an early kick at goal but made amends on 18 minutes when he kicked Drybrook into a 3 point lead with a penalty following an infringement at the back of a ruck.
Newent’s James Dean then put his side on the attack with a scything run and a late tackle on Tom Webb earned Drybrook’s Sam Peaper 10 minutes in the bin.
Webb got up to put over the penalty and a few minutes later Newent were pressing hard again when Drybrook’s second row Will Greenway joined Peaper on the sidelines following an illegal tackle.
Webb put over the resulting penalty and Drybrook’s problems continued when prop forward Elliot Beattie left the field injured.
With only 13 men on the park Drybrook did exceptionally well to keep Newent at bay and once they were back up to a full contingent they began to apply some pressure.
With the half drawing to a close a big effort from Drybrook looked to have led to a try for flanker Sam Peaper and the referee took a long time to make up his mind before awarding the score.
Stevenson converted to give Drybrook a slender advantage at the break.
Half Time:
Drybrook 10pts
Newent 6pts
In the second half Newent’s stronger scrum started to give Drybrook some problems and Webb quickly reduced the lead with his third penalty.
Drybrook then hit back and a powerful driving maul took play deep into Newent territory where a penalty eventually came which Stevenson converted.
12 minutes in Webb put over another penalty following another strong Newent scrum but again Drybrook were able to hit back.
With Will Greenway and Joe Tingle dominating the lineouts Drybrook used the catch and drive on a number of occasions to make ground and on one such foray they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts but the referee played a long advantage as Drybrook pressed for a try. Nothing came of it but instead of going back for the penalty they were awarded another kick near to touch which they kicked to the corner.
Newent held out but further pressure led to another shot at goal which Stevenson kicked to edge the home side further ahead,
With 20 minutes gone came the best bit of skill in the whole match when Peaper scooped up a dropped pass on 40 metres before spotting a gap and setting off on a tremendous run that led to a try in the corner.
At 21pts – 12pts ahead Drybrook were in control and were playing with more passion and desire than Newent and a great touch finder from replacement Mitch Renton kept the visitors pinned in their own half.
Into the last 10 minutes Newent finally gained some territory themselves and it was Drybrook’s turn to defend.
Another strong scrum led to a yellow card for Drybrook’s replacement prop Brian Ncube and only a minute later Stevenson joined him on the touchline after a handling offence at a ruck.
With a 2 man advantage Newent laid siege and eventually sheer weight of numbers led to a try for centre Will Mansfield on the overlap.
Drybrook had to endure 8 minutes of injury time is semi-darkness but with uncontested scrums now in play Newent’s best weapon was gone.
Drybrook managed to hold on for victory but it was no more than they deserved after a good all round showing.
Two try hero Sam Peaper shared the man of the match award with No 8 Joe Tingle back for his first game since September.
Drybrook Team: Kristian Taft, Mitch Baldwin, Joe Margetts, Ben Large (Capt), Rhys Gardner, Tim Stevenson, Ben George, Alex Wolfe, Ashley Howells, Elliot Beattie, Glenn Nott, Will Greenway, Danny Price, Sam Peaper, Joe Tingle.
Replacements: Mitch Renton, Tom Treherne, Brian Ncube.
Dowty