Matson 5ptsDrybrook 11pts
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Drybrook secured their third consecutive win on the road with this well earned victory at Matson’s Redwell Road Ground.
The pitch was very wet in places with sticky mud making it difficult for the players to stay on their feet or get any sort of purchase so it was always going to come down to a forward contest.
In this department Drybrook had the edge with a solid line out and scrum and their heavier pack dictated for long periods of the game. Even so they had to dig deep at the end to keep Matson from snatching a win.
Playing up the slope in the first half Drybrook made most of the running and went close several times in the opening 10 minutes before Tom Treherne finally put them in front with a penalty.
Matson missed a relatively easy shot at goal after 15 minutes but kept up the pressure which resulted in a somewhat fortuitous try. Drybrook seemed to have secured a lineout near their own line but the ball went loose and Matson were able to score down the short side.
Minutes later Drybrook were on the attack again and Matson lost a player to the bin for killing the ball and this gave the visitors the edge they needed. A succession of pick and goes and some excellent driving eventually led to hooker Luke Fisher claiming the try under a pile of players.
Drybrook continued to pile forward after this but sometimes it was easier to defend than attack as the slippery ball and heavy conditions made their mark on the game.
Matson lost another player to a yellow card after 30 minutes but Treherne fluffed the resulting penalty from near the posts and minutes later Drybrook made a mess of another penalty award from a similar position.
This time they elected to take it quickly but were smothered by the home defence.
Drybrook’s slender half time lead was insufficient reward given their wealth of possession and territory.
Half Time:
Matson 5pts
Drybrook 8pts
It was much the same pattern in the second half though Matson did begin to see more of the ball and Drybrook did well to keep them out early on.
The only good try scoring chance of the half came when Drybrook skipper Ben Large took a quick tap penalty and made a lot of ground before putting Treherne through the gap. The full back was hauled down just short but the support was lacking and Matson were able to clear.
Drybrook deservedly increased their lead when the Matson backs were caught offside and Trehene put over the penalty and for a period it looked as though a comfortable win was on the cards.
Matson had other ideas and threw everything at Drybrook in the last few minutes and came close several times but aggressive counter rucking and mauling kept them out.
Drybrook did lose second row Marcus Cowles to the bin towards the end but they kept their composure to grind out the win.
Drybrook’s pack deserves a lot of praise for their performance with Niall Gibbons and Rich Cottrell providing a solid lineout performance. Elsewhere Elliot White, Mitch Renton and Marcus Cowles kept them going forward with some great driving play ably supported by their colleagues.
Drybrook; Tom Treherne, Harry Gooderham, Kristian Taft, Jack Simmons, Sam Peaper, Ben Large (capt), Mitch Baldwin, Mitch Renton, Luke Fisher, Elliot White, Marcus Cowles, Glenn Nott, Danny Price, Niall Gibbons, Rich Cottrell.
Replacements; Will Greenway, Harry Collins, Dean Jelf.
