Drybrook Rugby Club

Drybrook secured victory against old rivals Bream in the last warm up match before they start their league programme but they lacked the fluency of the previous week.
Typically the game was hard fought but as a spectacle it was a pretty drab affair, littered with mistakes from both teams, and short on quality rugby.
The biggest problem came after 15 minutes when one of the Bream front row was red carded for a late tackle which subsequently led to uncontested scrums. Drybrook’s one man advantage counted for little as one of the game’s key components was taken away which led to a frustrating afternoon all round.
There was no scoring until the game suddenly sparked into life after 35 minutes when Drybrook prop Nick Ovens was driven over for a try near the posts following a neat lineout move.
Tom Treherne converted for Drybrook but straight from the restart Bream kicked a penalty to reduce the lead.
From the next restart Bream’s winger kicked ahead into acres of space and almost won the race to the touchdown but Drybrook in trying to defend the danger conceded a penalty near their own line.
A quickly taken tap from Bream led to the ball being fed wide to the winger who crossed for an easy try through a weak defence.
Drybrook upped the tempo from the next restart and Bream were forced to soak up a lot of

 

pressure but eventually a penalty was awarded and Treherne was able to give the home team a slender advantage at the break.
Half Time Drybrook 10pts Bream 8pts
At the start of the second half another smart lineout move by Drybrook led to substitute prop Mitch Renton barging over for a try near the posts with Treherne adding the conversion.
A few minutes later Drybrook skipper Simon Rugman made a mess of trying to run out from under his own posts and a penalty was conceded which Bream easily converted.For 20 minutes the game then developed into something of a stalemate but eventually Drybrook did get another try when scrum half Danny Griffiths seized on a loose ball on the visitor’s 22 metre line and broke clear to touch down mid way out.
Treherne’s conversion attempt rebounded off the posts but he was successful a few minutes later with a penalty goal to extend Drybrook’s lead.
There was no further scoring as play then became scrappy as the match drew to a close.

Drybrook team; Simon Rugman (Captain), Sam Peaper, Luke Fisher, Tom Treherne, Mitch Baldwin, Ben Large, Dan Griffiths, Nick Ovens, John Baynham, Craig Clarke, Marcus Cowles, Richard Cottrell, Pete Meek, Dan Price, Toby McCormick.
Substitutes; Joe Tingle, Tom Reed, Chris Rawlings, Mitch Renton. 

Drybrook United 14pts
Westbury-on-Severn 1st XV 5pts

An evenly contested encounter early on saw neither side able to get on top but eventually Drybrook grabbed the lead when slick hands put winger Kane Hale over in the corner with skipper Andy Milner adding the conversion.
Just before the break further Drybrook pressure forced Westbury into a mistake on their own line and fullback Ben Roberts was the quickest to react and pounced for a try which Milner again converted.
The second half was a little disjointed with both sides trying out numerous substitutes and a late try from Westbury ended the scoring for the afternoon.
Two of Drybrook’s newcomers Billy Roberts and Chad Vanstaden both caught the eye but disappointingly Vanstaden had to leave the field with a nasty gash to his forehead.

Drybrook United XV; Ben Roberts, Jack Davies, Dan Large, Ryan Duberley, Kane Hale, Adam Swordy, Andy Milner(Capt), Conner Auker-Howlett, Bily Head, Dean Jelf, Mitch Hale, Will Chung, Jim Rugman, Ben Warren, Rob Clyne.
Substitutes; Craig Boughton, Chad Vanstaden, Billy Roberts, Connor Hale, Jason Rowles, Chris Parker, Andy Warren, Dan Wilce, Matt Seaborne.