Drybrook 14ptsThornbury 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.
