Drybrook Rugby Club

The sun was shining for Drybrook Ladies as they took on ER Wood Sunday the 13th March, for a top of the South West One league clash the winner would sit at the top of the league with only a couple games left to play.
Drybrook travelled down to ER Wood just before Christmas and came away with a loss at 0 – 7 also losing skipper Shelley Bourne through a knee injury that has prevented her from re-joining the team to add further heart ache.
Drybrook was playing away from the club house into the sun first half also with the kick off.
A great kick and chase from Chanise beard put ER Wood under pressure from the start and a tackle from Ellie Underwood provided a turn over ball within the first minute deep in Woods half.
However the ref awarded Wood with a penalty for tackling the player without the ball and Wood regained possession.
Both sides fought hard to find space in the oppositions defence but without any joy.
Drybrook camped out deep within Woods half even though they were repeatedly penalised and marched back ten for hand in the rucks and not rolling away.
Then after what seemed like a very long first half Drybrook crossed the line in the corner through Kara Tucker, following some great hands and support play just before the half time whistle.

Half Time:
Drybrook Ladies 5pts
E R’Wood 0pts.

The second half kicked off and Drybrook seemed very settled by now showing no sign of nerves.
Within five minutes Kara Tucker had scored once again this time from a poorly taken Penalty by Wood, a superb chase and catch by Ellie, and once again great hands giving Drybrook the lead 10-0.
Shortly after Wood had one of their flankers sent to the bin for a high tackle bringing them down to 14 players.
Drybrook were keen to exploit this situation and on the 12th minute great hands from a forward turn over getting the ball out to Ellie which she used the extra space given to them and managed to get around the outside of the defence from her own 22 scoring to increase the score to 15-0.
On the 22nd minute Judith Arslan broke through the defence with a 50 meter dash for the line and an off load to Hannah Meek in the nick of time for Meeker to score her first try of the match with only 13 minutes left on the clock and bring the score to 20-0 to the home side.
Wood were not prepared to give up and this time with them working hard to create space from a penalty 5 meters from Drybrooks line

eventually scoring on the 29th minute to close the gap 20-5 but this was surely going to prove to be too little too late.
Drybrook went in search of the 5 try bonus point for the remainder of the game but unfortunately were denied and the score ended 20-5.
Drybrook are for now top of South West One with a game in hand however they have to win the next two games to secure the top spot.

Players of the match were Kara Tucker and Stevie Liddiatt.

Drybrook Ladies XV; Lucie Smith, Stevie Liddiatt, Julie Ann Norbury, Roxanne Carter, Sarah Teague, Marie Grindle, Jessica Hunt, Micha Harris, Kathryn Brain (c) Judith Arslan, Emma Gibson, Hannah Meek, Ellie Underwood, Kara Tucker, Chanise Beard.
Replacements, Bethany Powell, Karina Hall, Molly Teague, Hayley Jones, Natasha Kibble,Lorna Griffiths, Frankie Meadows, Chantal Lewis, Olivia Pritchard.

Match Photos (Facebook)