Matson (home) 25th January 2014

Western Counties North
report-page-western-countieDrybrook 6pts
Matson 3pts

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Drybrook narrowed the gap at the top of the division with this excellent victory over league leaders Matson.
The driving wind and rain dictated how the game had to be played and it was Drybrook who led the way with a magnificent effort from their forwards. This platform enabled them to enjoy the monopoly of possession and field position and although no tries were scored Drybrook went close on several occasions.
Matson made the early running but with 10 minutes played the heavens opened and handling became difficult.
Drybrook’s Jun Sing Lee was yellow carded after 15 minutes and from the resulting penalty Ryan Woodhouse put Matson into the lead.
Ollie Clements attempted to bring Drybrook level a few minutes later but his effort was blown well off course by the howling wind.
Drybrook kept up the pressure on Matson with a series of pick and drives but every time they got near the Matson line the visitors managed to clear.
Scrum half Carl Moore nearly touched down following a good run but knocked on just short of the line but with the first half coming to a close Drybrook finally got their reward.
Following several good forward drives and a period of ball retention centre Ben Large put over a good drop goal to level the scores.
With the last play of the half Drybrook were awarded a penalty and this time Clements made no mistake with a difficult kick into the wind.

Half Time:
Drybrook 6pts
Matson 3pts

A torrential rain burst during the interval saw referee Ian Bibey scurry for the shelter of the dug out and it looked at one stage that the game might be called off.
However the rain eased and the second half got underway and Drybrook were denied a score when they were held up in the in goal area.
A five metre scrum followed and Drybrook looked to be heading for a pushover score but Matson were just able to prevent it.
The visitors had the wind in their favour in the second half and used it to good effect to peg Drybrook back near their own line on a number of occasions.
Every time Matson got within striking distance the Drybrook forwards drove themselves out of trouble with prop Craig Clarke and No 8 Mitch Renton particularly prominent.
Drybrook were held up again later in the second half as they looked to close out the game but Matson made one last effort at the end.
A kick to the corner set up the position for an assault on the home line and after a couple of attacks Drybrook hooker Ashley Howells was yellow carded.
Drybrook withstood everything Matson threw at them after this and were deserved victors at the final whistle.
Drybrook were well served by every player in the challenging conditions with prop forward Craig Clarke getting the nod for the “CMCA UK” man of the match award.

Drybrook 1st XV; Tom Treherne, Kristian Taft, Ben Large, Simon Rugman (Capt), Dan Cox, Ollie Clements, Carl Moore, Jun Sing Lee, Ashley Howells, Craig Clarke, Liam Jackson, Neil Morgan, Dan Price, Luke Fisher, Mitch Renton.
Replacements: Mitch Baldwin, Marcus Cowles, Nick Ovens.

Gloucestershire Reserve League Premier
PREMIER-link
Cinderford Stags 5pts
Drybrook United 12pt
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Drybrook United travelled to Cinderford to take on the Stags after their league game away to Thornbury was postponed due to an unplayable pitch.
Cinderford Stags have enjoyed an excellent season so far with only one defeat against their name and a proud undefeated home record.
Drybrook United had first use of the notorious Bridge slope and quickly exerted their dominance at the scrum. The first score for Drybrook game from a penalty try after Cinderford infringed at a 5 metre scrum and Andy Milner added the simplest of conversions.
The game was evenly contested around the park with both sets off players working tirelessly in defence.
Drybrook added their second try of the game after countless scrums on the Cinderford line with Mitch Bourne claiming the touch down. That brought the half to an end just as a spectacular down pour heaped more misery on the players.
Not long into the second half Cinderford lost a front row player to injury and without any replacement to call on the game had to go to uncontested scrums taking away Drybrook’s most potent weapon.
Cinderford claimed their only try off the game when a clearance kick was charged down and the flanker was quickest to react to the loose ball.
The Drybrook pack laid the foundation for this victory with their intense work rate and never say die attitude.
Glen Nott picked up the man of the match award for his impressive effort.

Drybrook United; Chris Treherne, Sam Peaper, Connor Hale, Aiden Price, Jack Freeman, Andy Milner (capt), Kieran Auker-Howlett, Connor Auker- Howlett, Dean Jelf, Tony Suter, Glenn Nott, Mitch Hale, Mitch Bourne, Jim Rugman, Mitch Browning.
Replacement; Tom Reed.

Gloucestershire Reserve League North 2
north-2-link
Berry Hill Wappers 0pts
Drybrook Extras 6pt
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This was a scrappy game from start to finish and Drybrook took the lead from a Jimmy Ryder penalty 15 minutes into the match.
Berry hill came back strongly but Drybrook defended well in the testing conditions with rain and hail making life unpleasant for both teams.
Half time BerryHill Wappers nil Drybrook Extras 3pts
In the 2nd half Jim Smith, Iain Murphy and Colin Morgan were introduced with Morgan looking particularly sharp. He was unlucky not to go all the way after picking up the ball on his own 5 metre line and running the length of the pitch.
This did however result in Drybrook getting a penalty which Jimmy Ryder slotted over again.
Berry hill came back strongly once again and Drybrook were pinned back for the last 15mins. The Hill men thought they scored a try from a rolling maul but Drybrook players managed to hold the ball up to secure the win.
Man of the match performances for Drybrook came from Matt Seaborn who did a lot of spoiling on the flank and the evergreen Jimmy Ryder who had his normal reliable game.
BerryHill were indebted to Drybrook’s Dan Rogers, who came on a sub for them in his first game as prop following an early front row injury for Hill.

Drybrook Extras; Quentin Partridge, Tony Paul, Tony Hussey, Jack Davies, Jay Knight, Jimmy Ryder, Kane Hale, Billy Head, Tom Maskell (Capt), Lee Phelps, Dave Jones, Ashley Wallace, Jordan Taylor-Bourne, Matt Seaborn, Richard Roberts.
Replacements; Jim Smith, Zac Boothamn, Colin Morgan, Dan Wilce, James Ellway, Iain Murphy.