Oldfield Old Boys (away) 5th April 2014

Western Counties North
Oldfield Old Boys 5pts
Drybrook 31pts

Drybrook started badly in this game, losing the first scrum against the head. The line outs were a lottery and an error strewn performance gave Oldfield hopes of an unexpected win.
Eighteen minutes in and once things had settled the Oldfield backs were caught offside. Clements duly slotted the penalty and the three points gained gave Drybrook some confidence and they finally started to play.
Five minutes later, a rib injury forced No 8 Mitch Renton off, Marcus Cowles coming on as replacement and Neil Morgan moving to number eight.
Half an hour in Oldfield had a prop yellow carded for repeatedly killing the ball. This resulted in uncontested scrums for the ten minutes sin binning. Having been awarded a penalty, Drybrook kicked for touch and from the ensuing line out back row man Mitch Bourne found a gap and scored, Clements added the conversion.
The score was followed by several minutes of intense pressure from Oldfield but, the Drybrook defence was sound.

Half Time:
Oldfield Old Boys nil
Drybrook 10pts

The second half had barely started when Oldfield won a 22 metre line out, spun the ball wide and scored a try in the corner.
Undeterred Drybrook, gaining strength as the game progressed, went through several phases before releasing the threes who responded by putting Sam Peaper over for a try wide out. The conversion was added by the ultra reliable Clements.
Drybrook were now in the driving seat, all the set pieces now functioning well. Backs and forwards combined to make deep inroads to the Oldfield half and another driving maul wan a penalty when the Oldfield seven came in at the side. Drybrook opted for a scrum and drove Oldfield back over their line where Bourne pounced to score his second try which was duly converted by Clements.
A rampant Drybrook were now destroying the Oldfield scrummage and they were eventually penalised. Drybrook kicked the penalty to touch and a ten metre driving maul from the line out allowed hooker Luke Fisher to break off from the rear and dart through a bewildered Oldfield defence. Clements again added the conversion.
At this point, an Oldfield prop went off and again the scrums went to uncontested thus preventing Drybrook from pressing home their advantage.
This bonus point win keeps Drybrook at the summit and the league could be decided next week when second placed Chew Valley visit the Mannings.

Drybrook 1st XV; Kristian Taft, Sam Peaper, Ben Large, Simon Rugman (capt), Mitch Baldwin, Ollie Clements, Tom Treherne, Jun Sing Lee, Luke Fisher, Tom Reed, Neil Morgan, Glenn Nott, Mitch Bourne, Dan Price, Mitch Renton.
Replacements; Nick Ovens, Marcus Cowles, Chris Rawlings

Gloucestershire Reserve League Premier
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Gloucestershire Reserve League North
Drybrook Extras 21pts
Cinderford Bucks 16pts

Drybrook progressed to the next round following a typically hard fought game against a useful Cinderford Bucks outfit.
A strong start from the home side led to prop Craig Clarke scoring an early try but Cinderford soon began to get into the game.
Drybrook did well to keep out Cinderford who moved the ball whenever possible but eventually the visitors took the lead through two Ryan Walding penalties.
The rest of the half developed into a dour stalemate punctuated by the occasional flare up but right on the stroke of half time a Chris Treherne penalty regained the lead for Drybrook.

Half Time:
Drybrook Extras 8pts
Cinderford Bucks 6pts

Drybrook started the second half in determined fashion and following a line out in the corner Ashley Howells touched down and Treherne converted.
Cinderford hit back with breakaway converted try to make the score 15pts-13pts and. for the next 15 minutes it was anybody’s game.
A controversial penalty gave Cinderford the lead with 15 minutes to go but they were then reduced to 14 men following a yellow card when a punch was thrown.
Drybrook opted to kick to the corner and kept battling their way to the line which led to Clarke touching down in the corner.
Cinderford had the restart and Drybrook were put under pressure but defended gallantly and managed to secure the ball before booting in to touch to secure victory. It was a gritty performance from Drybrook who were well served by Clarke and Howells in the forwards with old heads Jimmy Ryder and Chris Treherne controlling the game at half back.

Drybrook Extras XV; Luke Roberts, Jack Freeman, Tony Hussey, Matt Freeman, Jay Knight, Jimmy Ryder, Chris Treherne, Craig Clarke, Tom Maskell (capt),Steve Virgo, Steve Turley, Dave Jones, Ashley Howells, Matt Seaborne, Richard Roberts
Replacements; James Smith, Lee Phelps, Quentin Partridge, Kane Hale.