Saturday February 23rd – RFU Senior Vase Quarter-Final

Senior Vase Quarter-Final

Marlborough 7pts
Drybrook 39pts

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An impressive performance from Drybrook led to a comprehensive victory at Marlborough where they took apart the home team with clinical efficiency.
In bitterly cold conditions Drybrook were given first use of the slope and wind advantage and they knew they had to make it pay.
They quickly got on top at the scrummage and the home team struggled to contain their driving maul.
It was from one such drive that Carl Moore opened the scoring after 10 minutes when he touched down for Tom Treherne to convert.
It was frantic at times as both sides fought for supremacy but Drybrook’s Ben Large kept his team going forward with some excellent kicking out of hand.
Large almost got a try himself when his long run was halted just short but Drybrook kept probing and with 25 minutes gone they grabbed a second try.
A clever box kick from Moore was gathered by No 8 Liam Jackson who gave an inside pass back to Moore who scampered over.
Drybrook’s dominance was further rewarded on 35 minutes when Treherne added a penalty and with almost the last play of the half Large was unlucky to see his drop goal effort just drop under the bar.

Half Time
Marlborough nil
Drybrook 15pts

Marlborough came out strongly in the second half but Drybrook soon got back on top and took play to within metres of the home line.
A knock on resulted in a Marlborough scrum but they made a mess of clearing the ball and flanker Andy Chesters was able to pounce for the simplest of tries.
Marlborough threw everything into attack after this and Drybrook had to defend for a long period but they managed to break out mid way through the half.
Carl Moore, who had been causing the home defence problems all afternoon, then wriggled through Tackle after tackle before off loading to winger Sam Peaper who touched down.
Treherne converted and it looked like game over but Marlborough hit back strongly and following some intense pressure they were awarded a try after grounding the ball against the post.
Drybrook quickly regained control and with five minutes to go another strong driving maul was finished off by Tom Reed who claimed the try.
Into the last the minute the Drybrook forwards emphasised their superiority by driving a maul for 25 metres and a gap opened up nicely for Moore to race through for his hat trick score.
Ben Large added the extras to cap a fine victory for Drybrook.

Drybrook team; Tom Treherne, Sam Peaper, Andy Bulumakau, Simon Rugman(capt), Rorie Day, Ben Large, Carl Moore, Tom Reed, Mitch Renton, Craig Clarke, Marcus Cowles, Rich Cottrell, Dan Price, Andy Chesters, Liam Jackson.
Substitutes; Joe Tingle, Chris Rawlings, Nick Ovens, Lee Ward, Jun Sing Lee, Luke Fisher, Neil Morgan.

Gloucestershire Reserve League North 1

No Match

Gloucestershire Reserve League North 2

Newent 2nds 27pts
Drybrook Extras 3pts

Drybrook took on Newent in a friendly at the recreation ground at Newent. Playing down the slope in the first half Drybrook received the kick off and immediately put pressure on Newents goal line, resulting in a penalty duly converted by Craig Boughton.
Drybrooks backrow forwards continued to press hard but handling errors and missed tackles allowed Newent to carve several opportunities, eventually creating 3 successive tries with none of them being converted.
Drybrook forwards continued to cause disruption in Newents defence and several times came close to Newents goal line. Excellent rucking and good driving again presented Drybrook with opportunities, however refereeing determined that the rucking was unacceptable play resulting in Drybrook being reduced to fourteen men for the following ten minutes. Time and time again Newent cleared their line due to indiscipline from Drybrook.

Half Time:
Newent 2nds 15pts
Drybrook Extras 3pts

The second half started as the first half finished with the referee determining when a ruck formed and players were on the floor the game was deemed unplayable and as a spectacle the game duly fell apart for Drybrook.
With rucks and mauls no longer part of the game Newent took control and began running the ball wide creating a further two tries with both being converted.
Players worthy of mention for Drybrook were Paul Cocker (number 8) and Jim Smith (number 15), both put solid performances in.

Drybrook Extras XV ; Jim Smith, James Meek, Matt Freeman, Mitch Browning, Dave Payne, Craig Boughton, James Ryder (Capt), Scott Phelps, Tom Maskell, Ben Venner, Steve Turley, Nick Wakeham, Guy Williams, Richie Roberts, Paul Cocker.
Sustitutes: John Baynham for Venner (50 minutes), Clive Boughton for Maskell (60 minutes) Dan Rogers (not used)