Clevedon 40ptsDrybrook 20pts
Traveling, once again, with a much changed side, Drybrook were competitive for 70 minutes of this game but fell away badly in the last 10 minutes.
Drybrook’s cause was not helped when flanker Danny Price pulled a hamstring in the pre match warm up to leave them with only 2 replacements.
Nevertheless Drybrook got off to a good start with lots of early pressure from forwards and back but were unable to convert this into points.
Clevedon opened the scoring on 8 minutes with a penalty and quickly followed this up with a try when some poor tackling in the corner led to a simple score.
On 24 minutes Drybrook scored a good try after flanker Chris Barry punched a big hole in the Clevedon mid field. The ball was quickly recycled and a long pass from skipper Ben
Large put winger Mitch Baldwin in the clear and he rounded off under the posts to make the conversion a formality for stand off Tim Stevenson.
Clevedon then took a stranglehold on the game and Drybrook were guilty of missing several first up tackles to allow the home side lots of time and space to launch attacks.
Not surprisingly Clevedon increased their lead with a penalty goal but Drybrook hit back and enjoyed a long period of pressure before the break.
Half Time:
Clevedon 16pts
Drybrook 7pts.
Drybrook closed the gap early in the second half when a clever break from Stevenson led to a penalty which he converted himself with a great kick.
Back came Clevedon who then scored their second try when the ball rebounded off a 5 metre scrum put in but play was allowed to continue and a home back row man dived on the loose ball for a try.
Feeling a bit hard done, by Drybrook hit back, and almost scored when a Jamie Cook break was halted just before the line. Minutes later Cook looked to be in for a try but was called back for a forward pass but the continued pressure eventually brought its reward.
Stevenson, who was again in fine form, showed good strength to muscle over near the posts for a try which he converted himself.
With 10 minutes to go Stevenson brought the score to 20pts – 23pts with another successful penalty and Drybrook looked to be in with a chance of victory.
Unfortunately some poor mid field defence led to a long run in for Clevedon’s third try and from then on Drybrook’s challenge disintegrated.
In the final minutes a quick tap penalty led to another try and right at the death a catch and drive from a line out led to try number 5 for the home side.
Drybrook ended the season in 6th position in this highly competitive league.
Drybrook XV: Ollie Gray, Sam Peaper, Ben Large (capt), Jamie Cooke, Mitch Baldwin, Tim Stevenson, Ben George, Mitch Hale, Alex Wolfe, Josh James, Will Greenway, Glenn Nott, Chris Barry, Luke Fisher, Mitch Renton,
Replacements: Craig Clarke, Huw Rimmer.
