Midsomer Norton 13pts
Drybrook 24pts
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A magnificent second half display playing into the teeth of a fierce gale earned Drybrook victory after a very disappointing first half showing.
Given first use of the slight Norton slope and with the wind in their favour, they knew they had to get points on the board but they struggled to assert themselves.
Stand off Ollie Clements opened the scoring on 8 minutes with a wind assisted penalty from just inside his own half but Norton hit straight back from the restart.
Drybrook’s midfield defence was found wanting as the home side’s centre danced through several would be tacklers on his way to a fine individual score.
Drybrook finally woke up and using the wind to create a good position they battered the home line until No 8 Mitch Renton finally forced his way over the line.
Clements converted and Drybrook played some impressive rugby after this and Norton had a player sin binned for repeat infringements as they struggled to keep the visitors out.
A try had to come and it was prop Craig Clarke who burrowed over and Clements converted to put Drybrook firmly in the driving seat.
Instead of pressing home their advantage Drybrook eased up and the home side came back into it with a strong spell of pressure towards the end of the half that led to a try from a scrum.
Half Time:
Midsomer Norton 10pts
Drybrook 17pts
Drybrook’s lead looked barely enough and there was only one tactic they could employ in the second half which was to keep the ball in hand and drive at the home side which they did superbly.
In No 8 Mitch Renton, they had the man for the occasion, and he spurred his team on by driving relentlessly every time he had the ball in his hands.
The Drybrook pack got on top but they were denied a try when prop Nick Ovens was held up in the in goal area after 10 minutes.
The home side finally managed to break the stranglehold and kicked a penalty after 15 minutes to narrow the gap to 4 points but this was as good as it got for them.
Drybrook then took total control of the game and with Liam Jackson reigning supreme at the line out they were able to keep the pressure on the home team.
Norton denied them time and again with some excellent defence on their own line and Ovens was held up again in the in goal area as Drybrook looked to close out the victory.
With the last play of the game the Drybrook forwards were finally rewarded when Ovens made the game safe with a try in the corner after another relentless forward drive.
Somehow Clements defied the elements to put the conversion between the uprights to cap a magnificent second half showing from Drybrook.
Drybrook 1st XV; Tom Treherne, Rorie Day, Ben Large, Simon Rugman, Luke Fisher, Ollie Clements, Mitch Baldwin, Craig Clarke, Ashley Howells, Nick Ovens, Liam Jackson, Neil Morgan, Lee Ward, Dan Price, Mitch Renton.
Replacements; Sam Peaper, Mitch Bourne, Dean Jelf.
