Drybrook Rugby Club

Gloucestershire Premier League

Bristol Saracens 8pts
Drybrook 20pts

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Drybrook moved to within a point of top spot and still have two games in hand on leaders Frampton Cotterell but this was far from their best performance of the season.
With the wind in their favour Saracens took the lead after 5 minutes with a penalty but Drybrook hit back immediately from the restart when Ben Large made a strong blindside break and found Mitch Renton in support and the burly hooker forced his way over for a try.
Drybrook upped the tempo after this and following several phases of high velocity rugby winger Andy Bulumakau broke through and raced around under the posts.
Tom Treherne converted and Drybrook continued to hold the territorial advantage though they lacked the cutting edge of recent weeks.
With 35 minutes gone Drybrook finally got their act together and a powerful catch and drive ended with prop forward Tom Reed crashing over.

Half Time
Bristol Saracens 3pts
Drybrook 17pts

After the break neither side were able to make an impression on the game until midway through the half when Saracens scored a good try.
The loose ball was won on half way and quickly moved wide where the winger raced through for the touch down.
The home side sensed the chance of an unlikely victory and played with more purpose but a yellow card for remarks to the referee left them with 14 men.
Large won a good turnover ball when he robbed his opposite number on half way and he almost raced clear but was just brought down short of the line.
Drybrook had the chance to wrap the game up with a series of 5 metre scrums but had to settle for a Tom Treherne penalty to settle the nerves.
Drybrook closed the game down at the end by retaining the ball as they trundled forward relentlessly and perhaps should have moved the ball wide in their pursuit of the bonus point try.

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

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Drybrook United 15pts
Cinderford Stags 5pts

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The eagerly awaited encounter of these two young forest teams lived up to all expectations with some excellent rugby played despite the slippery conditions at the Mannings.

From the kick off Drybrook hit the ground running with some lovely phases of play between forwards and backs, and from a lineout deep in the Cinderford 22, Joe Tingle gathered the throw and from the ensuing drive No 8 Mitch Browning grounded the ball over the line to claim the try with only 3 minutes on the clock, Captain Andy Milner duly kicked the conversion to add the extra 2 points.
More relentless pressure from the home side saw a penalty awarded to Drybrook just inside the Cinderford half which Milner slotted through the uprights to give his team a 10 nil advantage with only 10 minutes played.
The rest of the first half was played out with both sides showing some great flowing rugby but neither side was able to breach one another’s defence.

Half Time
Drybrook United 10pts
Cinderford Stags nil

Cinderford started the second period the more brightly of the two, but Drybook’s back line kept them at bay with good work at the ruck from centres Charlie Dagwell and Danny Griffiths.
Some over exuberance from a Cinderford defender saw Drybrook awarded another penalty but Milner sent the ball the wrong side of the posts.
With both sets of players starting to feel the effects of the heavy conditions underfoot an altercation at scrum time saw Drybrook’s back row Ben Warren and Cinderford’s scrumhalf Danny Parry told to have a ten minute rest to calm down.
With Drybrook a man short in the forwards they felt the pressure at the scrummage but were able to hold out.
With a reshuffle in the backs Danny Griffiths moved to scrum half and substitute Ryan Dubberley slotted into the outside centre roll but Cinderford hit back when their winger scampered over in the corner for a well deserved try on 65 minutes.
With this epic encounter moving into its last quarter and both teams back to their full compliment, both sides were throwing everything they had at each other to claim victory.
A kick to the corner put the ball into touch on Cinderford’s 5 metre line and from the resulting lineout the Drybrook pack had a series of drives but it was Danny Griffiths that powered his way over the whitewash to score the all important try.
The unsuccessful conversion attempt turned out to be the last play of the afternoon.
A worthy mention must go to Man of the Match Joe James for his tireless work throughout.
A great all round performance from an exciting young Drybrook team with a very bright future.

Drybrook United XV; Andy Milner (capt), Jack Davies, Charlie Dagwell, Danny Griffiths, Connor Hale, Adam Swordy, Tony Hussey, Connor-Auker-Howlett, John Baynham, Craig Boughton, Joe James, Jim Rugman, Ben Waren, Joe Tingle, Mitch Browning.
Substitutes; R Dubberley, Kane Hale, Steve Virgo, Paul Cocker, Jim Smith

Gloucestershire Reserve League North 2

No Fixture