Forest of Dean and District Combination Junior Cup Final

NEWENT RETAIN FOREST JUNIOR CUP

 Drybrook United 7pts
Newent 1st XV 36pts

Newent retained the Junior cup and completed an unbeaten season after overcoming a stiff challenge from Drybrook’s second team at the BerryHill ground.
There was no scoring for 25 minutes as Drybrook United surprised Newent with some aggressive defence but when centre Dan Price was yellow carded following a flare up, Newent took control.
A multi-phased attack eventually led to No 8 Fred Nottingham scoring and a few minutes later stand off Joe Goatley created the space for Charlie Gellert to add a second try.
Goatley’s conversion put Newent 12pts – nil ahead but even when second row John Duffin was yellow carded they were still able to keep up the pressure.
Just before the break some clinical play led to winger Dominic Mathews crossing in the corner.

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Half Time
Drybrook United nil
Newent 1st XV 17pts

Drybrook had the wind and slight slope in their favour in the second half and for a period looked capable of closing the gap.
With 20 minutes gone a Newent attack broke down in mid field and Drybrook full back Mitch Baldwin hacked on and won the race to the touchdown under Newent’s posts.
Milner converted but Drybrook’s Kane Hale made a real mess of a speculative kick ahead a minute later and Brett Gardiner sneaked in for a simple try.
Drybrook tried to hit back and got within metres of the Newent line but a counter attack by Goatley led to Matthews grabbing his second try with almost everybody else back fighting in the Newent 22 metre area.

 After consultation with his assistants referee Andy Taylor awarded the try and Goately converted to put Newent clear.
With time running out Drybrook lost replacement Jim Rugman to the bin and Newent put the issue beyond doubt with a late try.Prop forward Chris Stewart crashed over from a line out move with Drybrook’s defence nowhere to be seen and Goately added the conversion.
The man of the match was Newent scrum half James Dean.

Drybrook United XV; Mitch Baldwin, Jack Davies, Dan Price, Connor Hale,  Kane Hale, Andy Milner ( Capt), Danny Griffiths, Connor Auker-Howlett, John Baynham,  Tony Suter, Ben Warren, Joe James, Joe Tingle,  Mitch Browning,Toby McCormick.
Substitutes; Jim Rugman, Craig Boughton, Tom Treherne, Nick Ovens, Jun Sing Lee