United vs Matson 2nds (home) 25th February 2017

Drybrook United 12pts
Matson 2nds 17pts

With original opponents Lydney United and replacement opponents Cinderford Stags pulling out Drybrook were fortunate to secure a fixture at home to Matson.
Unfortunately they did not play well enough to secure victory with a number of players offering a limited contribution.
Drybrook started well enough and took the lead after 10 minutes when sustained pressure brought a try for second row Joe James which Andy Milner converted.
Matson then had a good spell and after pounding away at the Drybrook line for a period they finally got across for a converted try.
Towards the end of the half second row man Len Mulhane put Drybrook back into the lead when he was driven over for a try and Milner converted.
Just before the interval Drybrook centre Mitch Bourne was yellow carded for an offside offence in the red zone but his team managed to hold out until the break.

Some great handling at the start of the second half nearly brought Drybrook a try and then flanker Reece Lane went close as it was Matson’s turn to hang on.
A front row injury meant the scrums had to go uncontested and Matson began to get more into the game.
Kane Hale intercepted the ball in his own half but lacked the confidence to keep going and wasted the opportunity with a poor kick ahead.
Drybrook replacement Alex Smailes was then yellow carded for side entry at a ruck and the visitors kept up the pressure to score a try in the corner.
The conversion hit the post but the momentum was with the visitors and with Drybrook’s Mitch Hale guesting for them they started to turn the screw.
With only a few minutes left Matson scored the winning try when they broke through from open play to score in the corner.
Drybrook’s Tom Treherne limped off in the dying minutes with a serious looking knee injury to compound Drybrook’s problems.
Man of the match by some distance for Drybrook was Joe James who gave his all.

Drybrook United XV; Luke Roberts, Jack Freeman, Matt Freeman, Mitch Bourne, Kane Hale, Andy Milner, Tom Treherne, Steve Virgo, Connor Auker- Howlett, Huw Rimmer, Joe James, Len Mullane, Reece Lane, Jack Whiting, Ashley Jennings.
Replacements; Kieran Auker- Howlett, Alex Smailes, Jason Jones, Ashley Wallace.