Drybrook 1st XV
Drybrook 14pts
Thornbury 7pts
Drybrook squeezed home in a very tight game with second placed Thornbury on another wet afternoon at the Mannings.
It was a good victory for Drybrook considering they were without a few regulars but their solid defence and fitness levels proved decisive in the end.
Thornbury, with the wind in their favour, applied all the early pressure, but were off target with a long range penalty attempt after 5 minutes.
Drybrook were finding it difficult to get out of their own half and on 12 minutes they leaked a simple try.
Rushing up to shut down a counter attack on half way left them exposed and Thornbury exploited the gap to race through for a try under the sticks.
Then, a lovely passage of play from Drybrook in which Mitch Bourne was prominent, took play right up to the visitor’s line but unfortunately skipper Ben Large could not hold onto the slippery ball.
Thornbury were off target again with a penalty attempt from inside their own half but after this Drybrook got on top.
Unfortunately on too many occasions the ball carrier was isolated which returned possession to the visitors but slowly and surely Drybrook’s pressure was beginning to tell.
Just before the break, and with their pack doing some sterling work Drybrook scored a spectacular try.
Bourne spotted an unprotected blind side from a driven maul and combined with scrum half Mitch Baldwin before taking the return pass to touch down in the corner.
Tom Treherne nailed the difficult conversion into the teeth of the wind to bring the scores level.
Half time:
Drybrook 7pts
Thornbury 7pts
The second half started well for Drybrook and they soon edged in front when Baldwin capitalized on a dropped ball at a Thornbury scrum. The scrum half nipped in to snatch the ball and stroll over for an easy try which Treherne converted.
As the half wore on Thornbury took control but could find no way through the green wall as time and again they were knocked back.
Despite a paucity of possession, Drybrook hung on, and a couple of foot rushes out of defence almost led to further scores.
In the end they were well satisfied with their victory over a visiting side that is on course for the play off spot.
For Drybrook man of the match was prop Tony Suter who was called up at short notice but managed to put in a commanding performance to help his team over the line.
*Suter is the only player to have developed his own fan club who are known as the pink princesses. Applications for membership can be obtained from Roy Elton (President) or Mike Rawlings (Secretary)
Drybrook; Tom Treherne, Sam Peaper, Rob Faulkner, Kristian Taft, Ben George, Ben Large (Capt), Mitch Baldwin, Tony Suter, Harry Collins, Mitch Hale, Will Greenway, Glenn Nott, Mitch Bourne, Danny Price, Neil Morgan..
Replacements; Dean Jelf, Matt Denton, Joe Tingle.
Drybrook United
Cleve 2nds 15pts
Drybrook United 36pts
Drybrook United pulled off a very good win in Bristol at national league club Cleve.
Conditions played a great part in this return fixture, seeing Drybrook playing the better tactics to cope with the wet and windy venue.
Drybrook’s pack were dominant in the tight in the opening exchanges keeping the home team pinned down in their half, resulting in a try from a maul by powerful prop Dan Lewis.
A strong wind abled Cleve to capitilise on a kick into the wind by Drybrook’s Andy Milner, with their speedy backs recycling the weak kick, to touch down. Drybrook answered back by again using their pack to surge up field and then battering at Cleve’s defences until a try was grabbed by flanker Jim Rugman.
With the wind getting stronger behind Cleve, several mistakes by Drybrook earned the home team two more tries before half time.
After the break, Drybrook’s ability to adapt to the conditions gained them superior territorial advantage and resulted in four unanswered tries. The first of which came from impressive centre Simon Rugman who was a constant threat, showing his strong ball carrying skills he wrestled several defenders over the try line.
With several big carries from Drybrook No eight Ashley Jennings, the visitors were able to keep on the front foot which made for space for Simon Rugman to touchdown again, which was converted by Milner.
Cleve had one period of pressure that endangered Drybrooks line however a strong defence and powerful scrummaging kept them at bay.
Drybrooks constant game play wore down the home side and toward the end of the game saw the last two tries scored by flanker Jack Whiting and centre Gareth Holdsworth, both converted by Milner.
A solid team performance was made with the front row of Dan Lewis, Huw Rimmer and James Smith worthy of a mention, with Rimmer in particular being outstanding throughout.
Drybrook United XV; Rhys Evans, Jack Freeman, Gareth Holdsworth, Simon Rugman, Max Watkins, Andy Milner (capt), Kieran Auker-Howlett, James Smith, Huw Rimmer, Dan Lewis, Marcus Cowles, Joe James, Jim Rugman, Len Mullhane, Ashley Jennings.
Replacements; Jack Whiting, Jon Pritchard, Connor Hale,
Drybrook Extras
Drybrook Extras 24pts
Evesham 3rds 27pts
Drybrook Extras let a 17pts – nil slip as a poor second half allowed the visitors back in to sneak an unlikely victory.
Chris Rawlings set the home side on the way with a brace of tries with Jimmy Ryder also touching down.
Evesham then managed to slowly get themselves back into it where they were helped by some poor home tackling and a lot of indiscipline which was quickly stamped on by referee Guy Williams.
Scrum half James Colwell got a fourth try for Drybrook but Ryder could only manage 2 successful conversions which was not enough to get his team home.
Drybrook Extras XV; Quentin Partridge, Sam Grant, Jack Davies, Will Bailey, Jimmy Ryder, Chris Rawlings, James Colwell, Chris Parker, Iain Murphy Craig Lancett, Simon Ballinger, Mitch Williams Rich Roberts, Matt Freeman, Shaun Davis.
Replacements; Adam Harris, Jake Bourne, Ian Rawlings, Jordan Eacups, Ben Warren, Jason Roberts.
Drybrook 14pts
