Drybrook Rugby Club

Drybrook Ladies 14pts
Guildford Gazelles 10pts

This week Drybrook welcomed the Guildford Gazelles to The Manning’s. With one win each from last season Drybrook knew this game was never going to be easy.
Both team made their way onto the pitch to pay respect to all those fallen in a minute silence for Remembrance Sunday.
Guildford took the kick off with Drybrook playing away from the Club House. Great carries from the forwards lead to Drybrook punching holes in Guildford’s defence.
Unfortunately it wasn’t long until the away team managed to turn over the ball and apply pressure to Drybrook leading to a penalty against them. Guildford kicked the ball into touch, 5m from the try line. After winning the lineout and testing Drybrook defence phase after phase. Guildford was the first to cross the line. Conversion missed 0-5.
Play resumed and with penalty awarded to Drybrook for Guildford not releasing in the ruck and a quick penalty was taken by Scrum Half Sarah Bevan as she saw the space out wide;

unfortunately her run was cut short 10m shy of the try line and the opportunity was lost.
The remainder of the half consisted of scrum after scrum with both teams fighting for possession, great tackles from Kirsty Gwilliam as she dominated in her inside-centre position.
In the 40th minute Guildford crossed the try line once again much to Drybrook’s dismay. Conversion missed 0-10. Half time whistle blown.

The second half Drybrook kicked off, Drybrook knew something had to change if they were going to keep up this season unbeaten at home record. Drybrook stuck to what they knew worked; hard hits from the forwards then pass out to the backs. Applying the pressure to Guildford clearly worked when a Guildford player was yellow carded for repeat offence of high tackling.
With more scrum than the forwards thought possible and penalties given away from both teams, Stevie Liddiatt took a quick penalty 5m from the try line, great support from the forwards lead Lucie Smith to cross the line and score Drybrook’s first try of the game.

Conversion made by Ellie Underwood 7-10.
It wasn’t too late for Drybrook to make their come back and with moments left of the game Ellie Underwood scored Drybrook’s second try after running through Guildford defence. Underwood made the conversion 14-10.
The referee called last play as another scrum was called. Drybrook won the scrum after a strong drive and a battle of the hookers. Ball kicked to touch securing Drybrook’s win.

Forward of the match went to Stevie Liddiatt and Back of the match went to Kirsty Gwilliam.

Drybrook Ladies Squad: 1. Lucie Smith 2. Stevie Liddiatt 3. Michelle Lewis4. Hannah Conroy 5. Karina Hall 6. Emma Gibson 7. Carla Jenkins 8. Micha Harris 9. Sarah Bevan 10. Kat Brain 11. Hannah Meek 12. Kirsty Gwilliam 13. Carly Whent 14. Frankie Meadows 15. Judith Lack 16. Julie-Ann Norbury 17. Ellie Underwood 18. Kara Tucker 19. Chantal Lewis 20. Beth Lawrence 21. Lauren Wall 22. Lucy Moore