Bideford 23ptsDrybrook 20pts
Drybrook can count themselves extremely unlucky not to have come away with more than a losing bonus point after this exciting encounter in North Devon.
The game started in a torrential down pour and after some early home pressure Drybrook began to take control.
After 8 minutes sustained Drybrook pressure led to skipper Ben Large putting in a very astute cross kick for winger Mitch Baldwin to latch onto for the opening try.
Tom Treherne converted and Drybrook remained on top but twice knocked- on which halted some promising attacks.
With 20 minutes gone Drybrook flanker Sam Peaper almost got through but his strong run was halted under the posts and Bideford survived. Minutes later though the home side conceded a penalty and Teherne put his side 10pts – nil ahead.
A well executed driving maul took play back up to the home line and in the ensuing panic another penalty was conceded which led to a yellow card for Bideford and an easy kick for Treherne.
At 13pts – nil up and facing fourteen men Drybrook should have remained in control but Bideford hit back with their best spell of the half.
Despite missing a penalty kick Bideford continued to press, and it was Drybrook’s turn to hang on.
They managed to defend a driving maul in the corner but leaked a simple try when they were caught asleep with a quickly taken tap penalty that led to a try for the home side.
Half Time;
Bideford Chiefs 5pts
Drybrook 13pts
A poor start to the second half led to Bideford pressing hard for a score and Treherne was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on.
The home side kicked to the corner where a series of catch and drive line outs eventually led to a second try.
It got worse for Drybrook just after when hooker Ashley Howells left the field with a broken thumb forcing the visitors to reorganize.
The penalty count started to mount against Drybrook and as a result Bideford began to grow in confidence.
Drybrook could seemingly do little right in the eyes of the referee and from one such harsh decision Bideford drew level with a simple kick in front of the posts.
It seemed inevitable that Drybrook would lose a man to the bin as the penalties continued to be mount up and it was not long before Mitch Bourne was shown a yellow card.
Against the odds Drybrook refused to buckle but they could do very little to prevent Bideford’s third try.
A further penalty was awarded, this time on half way, and Bideford took it quickly and some slick inter passing led to a score mid way out.
The successful conversion seemed to spell the end for Drybrook but they came storming back with a try when replacement winger Anthony Okpaloafe forced his way through a tight defensive wall.
Treherne’s conversion brought the score to within 3 points and following this Drybrook took control again.
In a frantic finale Bideford just held out but Drybrook had the chance to draw level with a fairly straight forward penalty. Unfortunately Treherne’s kick bounced back off the upright but Drybrook quickly regained possession and laid siege to the home line.
Drybrook looked to have sneaked it when Okpaloafe crashed over again through a pile of players but the referee saw it differently and signaled for held up in goal.
Seconds later the final whistle came with no injury time allowed for Drybrook to try and rescue it.
Drybrook XV: Tom Treherne, Ben George, Joe Margretts, Harry Howard, Mitch Baldwin, Ben Large(capt), Jack Combes, Mitch Hale, Ashley Howells, Alex Wolfe, Will Greenway, Glenn Nott, Sam Peaper, Danny Price, Mitch Bourne.
Replacements: Lee Nightingill, Anthony Okpaloafe, Leonard Mulhane.
Drybrook Extras 14pts