Drybrook 7pts
Thornbury 5pts
The morning rain clouds had cleared to leave a bright chilly afternoon at the Mannings for this game between these two old adversaries.
Thornbury put the ball into touch from the kick off and from the resulting scrum Drybrook were straight on the attack. The ball was picked up at eight by Mitch Bourne who tore into the Thornbury defence to set up a ruck just outside the visitors twenty two. Good carries by Greenway and Tingle set up the chance for Mitch Hale to Barge his way over for Drybrook’s first and only score of a tense afternoon. Treherne added the conversion and with three minutes played Drybook were seven points up.
What followed next was a series of missed opportunities that could easily have come back to haunt the home team.
Mitch Baldwin who looked Drybrook’s most attacking threat throughout the game made a lovely break through the centre and with Danny Price clear on his outside mistimed the pass that would have led to an easy try.
Drybrook were monopolising possession at this point and a further chance was created after captain Ben Large had made ground through the midfield to set up a good platform on the visitor’s five metre line. The Drybrook pack in their haste to get over the line knocked the ball on and Thornbury were able to clear the danger from the resulting scrum.
On the half hour mark Drybrook looked set to score in the right hand corner after good play by Stevenson and Large had created the overlap but once again the ball went loose and suddenly after a long kick down field Thornbury were on
.
the charge. Joe Tingle made good ground to get to the ball first and took play back to the halfway mark with a typical strong run which ended badly when he aggravated the injury he had picked up at Collumpton and was forced to leave the field.
Drybrook had the chance to increase the lead five minutes later but Treherne’s long range penalty drifted just wide of the right hand upright.
Halftime arrived and you could sense the frustration around the ground as Drybrook could and should have been in a far better position than their seven point lead. On the other hand Thornbury could sniff the opportunity of gaining an away victory and were growing in confidence.
The second period began and another Drybrook attack came to end after they were unable to hold onto possession after making good ground from the kick off.
Thornbury were now beginning to ask questions of their own and only good defence from Treherne, who looked solid all afternoon at fullback, kept them at bay.
Drybrook were then the architects of their own downfall. Stevenson’s drop out was charged down and from the following breakdown instead of kicking the ball to safety Drybrook looked to pass their way out of trouble. This led to an interception by the Thornbury outside half who crossed for the try. The conversion was missed but the stage was set for a nail biting final half hour.
Drybrook were extremely lucky not to lose the
lead when a typical mix up in attack led to the Thornbury winger kicking the ball long and out pacing the defence in the race for the touchdown. Fortunately for Drybrook the ball was deemed to have crossed the dead ball line and all the Manning’s faithful were relieved to hear the ref award Drybrook the twenty two drop out.
The final twenty minutes followed a similar pattern to the rest of the game. To be fair to Drybrook they were the team looking to create but their inability to keep possession or provide quick enough ball meant all their endeavour led to nothing. Thornbury always looked dangerous on the counter and it took some dogged defending to keep them at bay.
Drybrook saw out the final few minutes by utilising their impressive lineout where once again Will Greenway was imperial, to set up a catch and drive before kicking the ball to touch to end the game.
Seven points to five may not sound like a classic, but this was a hard fought contest between two good sides and Drybrook to their credit came through with the win their overall performance deserved.
We now look forward to next week when the unbeaten Exeter University team visit the Manning’s for the first time, in a contest between the top two in this division.
Drybrook – T. Treherne, H. Howard, B. Large, D. Price, M. Baldwin, T. Stevenson, B. George, L. Boon, A. Howells, M. Hale, W. Greenway, G. Nott L. Mullane, J.Tingle, M. Bourne.
Replacements – C. Guest – R.Gardner – H. Rimmer
