Drybrook 33ptsTeignmouth 17pts
Drybrook opened the New Year with a comfortable bonus point victory against Teignmouth where they showed plenty of enterprise but let themselves down a bit with poor discipline again a concern.
The opening period was fast and furious with Drybrook keeping the ball alive and Teignmouth did well to keep them out. Eventually some slick handling created the space for second row Will Greenway to open the scoring with a try mid way out and Tom Treherne added the conversion.
Teignmouth hit straight back and when Drybrok’s Tim Stevenson was penalized for tackling a man without the ball, the visitors put over the penalty rom in front of the sticks.
Drybrook then gradually got on top but the penalty count began to stack up against them and Teignmouth were able to relieve the pressure on a number of occasions.
Prop forward Mitch Hale looked to have put Drybrook further ahead but his effort was adjudged to have been held up in the in goal area and the visitors were able to scramble clear once more.
Drybrook scrum half Ben George then became the first of three yellow cards for the home side when one team penalty too often was punished the referee.
Despite being a man down Drybrook still looked the livelier of the two sides and it came as no surprise when flanker Sam Peaper broke through and delivered the perfect pop pass for Greenway to score his second try.
Treherne converted and it was not long before he was called up to add the extras to another try when Mitch Baldwin took a quick tap penalty and glided past several defenders on his way to a try under the posts.
At the end of the half a speculative attacking kick bounced well for the visitors and a dribble and chase led to a try in the corner.
Half Time:
Drybrook 21pts
Teignmouth 10pts
Drybrook started the second half with great intent and centre Kristian Taft was brought down just short of the line after breaking through in mid field.
Drybrook kept pressing but too often their old problem of poor execution in the final third of the pitch frustrated their efforts.
Penalty after penalty was conceded by Drybrook until finally the referee yellow carded replacement Joe Tingle who had only been on the pitch for 30 seconds.
Despite this Drybrook remained on top and got the bonus point try when No 8 Mitch Bourne surged through and found hooker Ashley Howells in support who touched down near the corner.
Teignmouth then found themselves reduced to 14 men with a yellow card and Drybrook remained in control to score the best try of the day. From a five metre scrum in the corner some neat and slick handling sent skipper Ben Large through the gap and in under the posts.
Treherne nudged Drybrook further ahead with the conversion but the home side were unable to add to their account as Teignmouth staged a late rally by controlling possession.
With time running out Teignmouth had several pushover try attempts but at the third time of asking Drybrook prop Alex Wolfe was deemed to have slipped his bind and referee Billy Fishwick had no hestiaition in issuing another yellow card and awarding a penalty try.
A minutes silence was held prior before kick off in tribute to former Chairman Jeff Tate who sadly passed away the day before.
Drybrook 1st XV: Thomas Treherne, Mitch Baldwin, Kristian Taft, Ben Large (Capt), Rhys Gardner, Tim Stevenson, Ben George, Alex Wolfe, Ashley Howells, Mitch Hale, Glenn Nott, Will Greenway, Danny Price, Sam Peaper, Mitch Bourne.
Replacements: Harry Howard, Huw Rimmer, Joe Tingle.
Drybrook Extras