Thornbury 25pts
Drybrook 16pts
Thornbury took control of this game in the second half to run out winners on a very sticky Cooper’s Farm pitch.
Drybrook’s biggest problem was highlighted at the first scrum where they were shunted off their own ball and in the process conceded one of many penalties.
The home side kicked long to the corner and despite the initial drive being stopped they eventually crashed over for the opening try.
Playing up the slope Drybrook kept the ball alive whenever they could and a couple of lightening breaks from tap penalties led to a kick in front of the posts which Tom Treherne kicked to open their account.
Drybrook continued to threaten despite being outmuscled in the tight play and Treherne put over a second penalty to give them the lead.
With 39 minutes on the clock Drybrook showed good intent with a long period of pressure and they were rewarded with a third penalty from Treherne.
Thornbury’s response was powerful and Drybrook held out until just before the interval when the home side out over a penalty to close the gap to one point.
Half time:
Thornbury 8pts
Drybrook 9pts
Any hopes Drybrook had of taking over in the second half were quickly dispelled when Thornbury hit them with a two try blitz.
The first came from sustained pressure and following a scrum 15 metres out the home outside half ghosted through a gap to touch down under the posts.
From the restart Joe Tingle was penalised for holding on in the tackle and a long penalty kick to the corner brought the inevitable catch and drive try.
Most of the second half was spent in the Drybrook half where No8 Mitch Bourne worked wonders to secure a lot of possession from a retreating scrummage.
On one of their few visits into home territory Drybrook conceded another penalty and back chat gave he home side another 10 metres to kick to the corner once more.
To make matters worse Danny Price was yellow carded and Thornbury easily bundled over for the bonus point try.
There was only pride to lay for in the last 10 minutes and despite losing Tim Stevenson to another yellow card Drybrook at last began to apply some pressure.
The consolation try came right at the end after Drybrook were camped on the home line and prop forward Mitch Hale shrugged off a couple of tacklers to crash over near the posts.
Treherne’s successful conversion brought an end to play on a disappointing day for Drybrook.
Drybrook 1st XV; Tom Treherne, Rhys Garner, Ben Large (capt), Kristian Taft, Mitch Baldwin, Tim Stevenson, Ben George, Mitch Hale, Ashley Howells, Alex Wolfe, Glenn Nott, Will Greenway, Danny Price, Sam Peaper, Mitch Bourne.
Replacements; Joe Tingle, Elliot Beattie, Harry Howard
