St Austell 9ptsDrybrook 10pts
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Drybrook’s fine run of league form continued when they scored a late try to secure victory in appalling conditions at St Austell’s Tregorric Park.
The game started in driving rain which later turned to sleet, then snow, and ended in a violent hailstorm that turned the pitch white.
To compound matters a fierce wind made constructive rugby almost impossible and it is a credit to both teams who stuck it out and produced an exciting and competitive encounter.
St Austell failed to gain much advantage from the wind in the opening 20 minutes when both defences were on top but on a rare visit to Drybrook’s 22 metre area they managed to open the scoring.
Drybrook were penalised for holding on too long to the ball after a tackle and the home side crept in front with a successful kick from in front of the posts.
Drybrook responded very positively with some good ball retention and they went through several phases which led to a well worked try. After sucking in the defence the ball was spun out wide to centre Luke Fisher who still had a bit of work to do before he crashed over in the corner.
Tom Treherne’s conversion attempt was blown off target by the wind and the remainder of the half was played out with neither side able to gain superiority as the conditions began to deteriorate.
Half Time:
St Austell 3pts
Drybrook 5pts
The floodlights had to be switched on at the break and early in the second half Drybrook centre Jack Simmons made a great break down field but lacked support so a try scoring opportunity was missed.
Within minutes St Austell were on the attack and kicked a penalty to go into the lead and from the restart Drybrook earned a kickable penalty award but chose to run it and got turned over.
Midway through the half the home side began to get on top and should have increased their lead when a clearance kick was charged down but a knock on saved Drybrook.
St Austell continued to monopolise territory and possession and kicked a third penalty goal to increase their lead and when Drybrook lost prop Mitch Renton to the bin with 15 minutes left there seemed no way back.
Into the last 5 minutes Drybrook managed one last effort and were awarded 3 penalties in quick succession which they kicked to the corner to try and get a catch and drive try.
They made a mess of the first two, but managed to keep St Austell penned in, and at the third time of asking back row man Mitch Bourne just pipped prop Dean Jelf to the touch down.
Drybrook then lost scrum half Mitch Baldwin to a yellow card and there was still time for the Cornishmen to mount one last attack.
With the hail teeming down Drybrook had to defend a five metre scrum and they dug deep to disrupt the ball before hacking it clear to earn victory.
For Drybrook prop Elliot White and flanker Niall Gibbons shared man of the match accolade.
Drybrook; Tom Treherne, Harry Gooderham, Luke Fisher, Jack Simmons, Sam Peaper, Ben Large (capt), Mitch Baldwin, Mitch Renton, Harry Collins, Elliot White, Marcus Cowles, Will Greenway, Danny Price, Niall Gibbons, Rich Cottrell.
Replacements; Glenn Nott, Mitch Bourne, Dean Jelf.
