Drybrook 34pts
Launceston 15pts
The Cornish All Blacks arrived early at the Manning’s full of swagger following their run of form that had seen them climb to third in the table.
On a blustery afternoon in front of a large crowd they kicked off towards the clubhouse and immediately retrieved possession to set up their first attack.
Drybrook who boast the best defensive record in the league were in no mood to let their visitors steel an early lead and fine work from Nott and Tingle kept them at bay until Peaper stole the ball at the breakdown to allow the home side to clear their lines.
The opening exchanges were a cagey affair with a lot of intervention from young ref Joe Binfield, who was being assessed, this kept the tempo of the game at a fairly low ebb compared to what the Drybrook faithful have been used to seeing this season.
After the first quarter Drybrook were beginning to slowly take control of the game. Their lineout was operating well with Howells and Greenway in perfect sync, setting up good ball for the rest of the pack to drive forward.
It was due credit when their hard work produced the opportunity for ace poacher Peaper to spot the gap and cross the line for Drybrook’s first score of the afternoon. Treherne was successful with the conversion and with twenty two minutes played Drybrook were seven points to the good.
The flow of the game was constantly being interrupted by the whistle and this combined with good defence from both teams kept the
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scoreboard operators quiet until the thirty sixth minute when Treherne slotted a long range penalty to take the home team into a ten point lead.
On the stroke of half time Drybrook were penalised for joining the ruck in front of the back foot. The Launceston outside half stepped up to keep his team in the game with a simple three pointer to leave the score at ten points to three in favour of Drybrook at the interval.
If the first half had been somewhat mundane what was to follow was nothing short of breath taking.
At the break Mr Fortey requested in his usual polite manner that the players raise the tempo and raise it they most certainly did.
The forwards began to offload in the tackle and with man of the match Glenn Nott always in support they tore into the Cornishmen at a pace allowing the ever threatening Ben Large to exploit the gaps in defence to set free Danny Price to score Drybrook’s second try.
At times Drybrook were guilty of forcing the pass rather than taking the contact. Although this interrupted their rhythm it did nothing to damper their enthusiasm and on the fifteen minute mark they produced as fine a try as has graced the Manning’s this season.
Great inter passing involving Nott, Bourne, Tingle and Hale set up quick ball for Baldwin to take on before unleashing his captain Large to go over for a splendid score which Treherne crowned with the extra two points.
Most of what the opponents were trying to do in attack was being thwarted by the defence of
Price, Howard and the big hitting Greenway. A spark of individual magic however from their fullback who delightfully gathered his own chip ahead before passing inside to the supporting openside made for a well taken converted try.
Drybrook were soon back in the ascendancy and worked the ball well across the backs before coming back to their forwards. The powerful Mitch Bourne was on hand to force his way over for the bonus point try.
From the restart Boon and Hale crashed into the opposition to set up good attacking ball on the visitors twenty two. Treherne who had switched roles to play at scrumhalf to allow the pace of Baldwin to come onto the ball was rewarded when he received the final pass to go over and secure the game for Drybrook with another excellent score which he duly converted.
Launceston to their credit did come back to score a late consolation try but it was too little too late and the final whistle went to end a pulsating second half which again saw the Green Machine celebrating another well-earned victory.
Next week Drybrook are at Redwell Road where Matson will be all fired up for a chance to knock us off our perch. If we produce the rugby we are capable of then they could be in for a tough afternoon.
Drybrook XV: T. Treherne, R. Gardener, H. Howard, D. Price, L. Mullane, B. Large, , M. Baldwin, D. Jelf, A. Howells, M. Hale, W. Greenway, G. Nott, S. Peaper, J.Tingle, M. Bourne
Replacements – L. Boon, C. Guest, L. Roberts
