Drybrook Rugby Club

Drybrook ladies Travelled to Litchfield to play in the National Junior Cup Final on Saturday 23rd April. The sun was shining, the platform couldn’t be any bigger.
Drybrook ladies was resurrected 3 years ago when Drybrook 1st XV travelled down to Twickenham to play their final of the national cup and inspired Lucie Smith to start a new team at Drybrook.
This was the Ladies chance to prove their worth. After what has been an amazing third season after winning the league the ladies were set to write history for Drybrook rugby club by giving their all to seal the deal on a perfect season in an attempt to win the double.
The game kicked off at 1:15 on the main pitch with Drybrook playing away from the clubhouse. Barnsley applied pressure from the off but both teams were so determined. After 7 Minutes Drybrooks leading try scorer Ellie Underwood broke through the Barnsley defence with ease and scored under the posts adding the conversion to give Drybrook an early lead 7 – 0.
Barnsley worked hard to keep Drybrook in their own half. Drybrook however had some great carries from the front row and some outstanding rucking from the the back row kept the game extremely tight.
On the 14th minute great pressure from Drybrooks back line saw Ellie Underwood take an interception with a 60 metre dash for the line to score once again under the posts increasing Drybrooks lead to 14 – 0.

On the 20th minute Drybrook found themselves under pressure once again this time on their own line trying to defend a penalty for hands in the ruck.
However a knock on gave an opportunity to Drybrook to clear their lines. The scrum was secured and the ball went across the backs but extreme pressure from Barnsley and a charged down clearance kick meant Barnsley were on the scpre sheet, closing the gap to 7 points and looking dangerous.
No further score came in the first half despite many meaningful attacks from both teams.

Half Time:
Drybrook Ladies 14pts
Barnsley Ladies 7pts.

The second half kicked off and within 3 minutes a determined Ellie Underwood had the ball once more, and with a hard run scored out wide to increase the gap for Drybrook to 19 – 7.
Only 2 minutes later the ball found the hands of Hannah Meek with space out wide, with Barnsleys winger hot on her heals it was a foot race for over 50 meters which Hannah won to score under the posts and increase the gap to 26 – 7.
With only 20 minutes left on the clock in this final the hits were getting harder and harder.
A series off penalties against Drybrook put them under pressure once again which this time ended in Barnsley scoring in the corner to make the score 26 – 12.

On the 57th minute skipper Katryn Brain crossed the line in the corner following great hands to add her name to the score sheet increasing Drybrooks lead to 31 – 12.
Drybrook relaxed a little for the last 10 minutes allowing Barnsley to score a further 2 tries one of which was on the full time whistle.
The game ended 31 – 24 ensuring the cups new home was at Drybrook RFC.
What a superb season for Drybrook ladies winning the league and the cup. Onwards and upwards!

Forward of the match went to Molly Teague for her great work in and around the breakdowns and back of the match went to our very own star Ellie Underwood.

Drybrook Ladies XV: Lucie Smith, Stevie Liddiatt, Julie Ann Norbury, Roxsanne Carter, Marie Grindle, Micha Harris, Jess Hunt, Molly Teague, Sarah Bevan, Judith Arslan, Emma Gibson, Kara Tucker, Ellie Underwood, Hannah Meek, Kathryn Brain (c)
Replacements: Karina Hall, Sarah Teague, Shelley Bourne, Bethany Powell, Natasha Kibble, Hayley Jones, Gemma Withington.

Match Photos (Facebook)