Drybrook Rugby Club

Drybrook 1st XV
Thornbury 15pts
Drybrook 10pts

A losing bonus point was as good as it got for Drybrook at a wet and very windy Thornbury.
Playing down the slope the home side made all the early running and subjected Drybrook to a lot of pressure.
Thornbury caused Drybrook all sorts of problems at the scrum and 10 minutes in they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Opting for the scrum instead of the kick they went for the pushover but were awarded a penalty try instead after multiple infringements from Drybrook.
Inexplicably the conversion was missed but Drybrook hit back immediately to take the lead. Skipper Ben Large charged down a kick in mid field and gathered the ball before sending Jamie Cook in under the posts.
Tom Treherne converted and soon extended Drybrook’s lead with a penalty as the visitors began to see more of the ball.
The rest of the half became a war of attrition as both sides struggled in the difficult conditions and there was no more addition to the score

Half Time:
Thornbury 5pts
Drybrook 10pts

The wind in the second half became even more extreme and it was virtually impossible for Drybrook to kick out of hand.
Thornbury played the conditions much better and made fewer handling errors in a gritty display.
Five minutes into the half Thornbury got on level terms with a try from an attacking drive near the line.
The rest of the half was dreadful to watch with both sides reduced to playing pick and go rugby and it was easier to defend than attack in the deteriorating conditions.
Five minutes from the end Thornbury were awarded a penalty in front of the Drybrook posts which they opted to take quickly but the visitor’s defence were able to smother them.
With this let off Drybrook seemed to be heading for a draw and with only 2 minutes left they were in control with some of their best rugby of the half.
Unfortunately they conceded a penalty on half way and Thornbury were able to use the wind to kick to the corner. Drybrook were unable to keep out a driving maul from the line out and the home side crashed over for the winning score.

Drybrook; Tom Treherne, Sam Peaper, Ben Large (capt), Jamie Cook, Mitch Baldwin, Oliver Gray, Jack Coombs, Dean Large, Luke Fisher, Mitch Renton, Will Greenway, Neil Morgan, Danny Price, Joe Tingle Mitch Bourne,
Replacements; Alex Gibson, Glenn Nott, Kristian Taft.

Drybrook United
Drybrook United 19pts
Cleve United 22pts

Drybrook narrowly lost out at home but despite the poor conditions both teams attempted to play constructive rugby.
The conditions suited the more bulkier Cleve pack but Drybrook were first on the score board midway through the 1st half, several phases created space outside for Simon Rugman to coast in.
Cleve scored next after some good ball retention created gaps out wide which they exploited to the full.
Some very poor defending then allowed the Cleve inside centre to score from in his own half to give the visitors a small advantage at the interval.
Cleve got off the better at the start of the second half & soon crashed over for a converted try & shortly after successful penalty extended their lead.
Drybrook dug in to get themselves back into the game but were denied a try from an attempted pushover at a 5 metre scrum push over try when they knocked on.
Pressure was kept on Cleve in their 22 and it eventually told when Drybrook were awarded a penalty which was tapped & fed to Number 8 Ashley Jennings who power over the line.
Skipper Andy Milner knocked over the conversion and then Into the last 15 minutes flanker Connor Hale scored in the corner after a series of pick & goes with Milner the successful conversion setting up a tense finale.
Unfortunately for Drybrook they couldn’t break through a resolute Cleve team.
Man of the match award was Connor Hale who was well supported by the other back row men Jack Whiting & Ashley Jennings.
This Saturday Drybrook continue their league programme when they welcome Lydney Utd to the Mannings.

Drybrook United XV; Aaron Ryder, Jack Freemen, Simon Rugman, Rhys Evans, Luke Roberts, Andy Milner (Capt), Kieran Auker-Hwlett, Tony Suter, Dean Jelf, Hugh Rimmer, Joe James, Jon Pritchard, Ashley Jennings , Connor Hale, Jack Whiting.
Replacements; Connor Auker-Howlett, Tony Hussey , Alex Smailes, Tim Howarth.

Drybrook Extras
Newent 2nds 39pt
Drybrook Extras 10pts

Drybrook 3rds travelled to Newent 2nds to play a friendly fixture. This was sure to be a great test for Drybrook as Newent 2nds are in the Gloucester Premier Reserve league alongside the Drybrook 2nd XV.
A few of Drybrook’s backs were missing forcing players out of their regular positions across the three quarter line. However after a recent winning streak and a reasonably strong squad Drybrook 3rds travelled with some confidence.
Newent won the toss and decided to kick off with Drybrook playing towards the changing rooms for the first half. A clean catch by Drybrook and a hard hit from the forwards provided a great platform for Gareth Holdsworth to kick clear but unfortunately the ball didn’t make touch and Newent’s well drilled backs had a run from depth that was just halted.
Both teams played hard fast rugby, defending well and counter attacking where possible.
Drybrook’s pack was clearly the dominant force out of the two sides showing strength in the scrums and breakdowns across the field.
The first score came in the 12th minute a missed tackle from Drybrook lead to Newent crossing the line for the first try of the match and with no conversion the score was 5 – 0.
From the re-start a great chase and a clean catch by Steve Turley once again put Newent under pressure. A penalty was then awarded to Newent for a Drybrook offside at a scrum and great hands from the home side led to a second try in the 19th minute.
With 24 minutes gone a chip kick through from Drybrook and a tackle off the ball five metres out led to Newent losing a player to the sin bin. However much to Drybrook’s disappointment only a penalty was awarded and they also lost Holdsworth to injury as a result.
Mitch Williams came off the bench to play on the wing and Billy Bowdler moved to scrum half. Drybrook who felt hard done by kicked to the corner for a lineout. They set up a driving maul and went through a couple phases but turn over ball led to Newent kicking up field to clear the danger. 34 minutes in Newent found space through the Drybrook line once again to score this time under the posts with the conversion making the score 17 – 0.
Drybrook did not give up even when Newent who by now had a few replacements appearing on the side line from other cancelled games, decided to make a few changes in the hope of trying to strengthen their forwards. On the final play of the first half Newent scored once again through the backs and converted taking the score into the first half at 24 – 0.
Drybrook kicked of the second half, and strong pressure resulted in a loose ball and Gareth Holdsworth, who had recently re-joined the field of play, crossed for their opening try.
Unfortunately shortly after Newent answered with yet another score from a great chip and chase fast hands and quick backs to score in the corner making the score 29 -5, with only ten minutes of the second half gone.
Great rugby from both sides then followed but the Drybrook forwards were now crashing the ball phase after phase attacking Newent’s line and then finally on the 23rd minute of the second half Dan Lewis crashed through for his team’s second try.
Newent ran in a further 2 more unconverted try’s towards the end to put a misleading look to the the final score of 39pts -10pts.
The stands out performers for the Extras were Jim Rugman, Richard Roberts and Gareth Holdsworth.

Drybrook’s Extras XV; James Smith (Capt),Iain Murphy, Mitch Hale, Steve Turley, Marcus Cowles, Dan Lewis, Richard Roberts, Jim Rugman, Gareth Holdsworth, Jimmy Ryder, Quinten Partridge, James Meek, Adam Harris, Sam Grant, Billy Bowdler.
Replacements; Craig Lancett, Neil Ricketts, Mitch Williams, Jon Mustoe, Simon Ballinger, Clive Boughton.