Drybrook 27pts
Exeter University 18pts
As the sides lined up to pay respect to all who have fallen in conflict for our country and the notes of the last post, played beautifully by Mr Craig Wintle, faded away, the scene was perfectly set for this long awaited clash between the top two teams in this division.
As the sides lined up to pay respect to all who have fallen in conflict for our country and the notes of the last post, played beautifully by Mr Craig Wintle, faded away, the scene was perfectly set for this long awaited clash between the top two teams in this division.
Exeter brought with them a perfect record of nine bonus point wins and the confidence of youth. Drybrook have only lost once this season and as we have seen before they hold little respect for reputations.
The referee Sean White from the Yorkshire Society blew his whistle and the Exeter outside half kicked long into the Drybrook half where Mitch Bourne gathered and took the ball into contact. The Uni boy’s line speed in defence made it difficult for Drybrook to create room for a clean exit and a misdirected box kick from the scrum half was collected thirty yards out by the Exeter inside centre who brought the ball back at great speed before passing to his centre partner who in turn unleashed the winger who rounded the covering defence to score after only three minutes on the clock. The conversion was kicked and what was going to be a hard game to win had just become a whole lot harder.
Drybrook though were not panicked and despite being under pressure in the scrum their pick and drive game was paying great dividends in metres made. Exeter showed great tenacity in their defending although Drybrook were not to be denied and on eighteen minutes Ashley Howells was on hand to take the final carry over the try line and with the ever reliable Treherne adding the extras, Drybrook were level.
Drybrook should then have added to their score when Tim Stevenson put Mitch Baldwin through
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following a switch move but the winger was unable to hold on to the ball and the opportunity was lost.
Exeter were now back on the attack and their constant pressure was rewarded with two penalties that their outside half converted to give them a six point advantage.
In typical fashion, Drybrook came storming back and after a cynical knock on in front of their own posts Exeter were lucky to get away with just having a penalty awarded against them which Treherne duly put over the bar for three points. With the half time score thirteen points to ten in favour of the visitors, Drybrook’s team talk was all about staying positive and converting the chances that came their way.
The second half kicked off and the Drybrook forwards took the game straight to their opponents with great driving play from Greenway, Peaper and Tingle. The ball was made available for replacement prop Elliot Beatie, who had only been on the pitch two minutes, to crash through the defence to give Drybrook the perfect start to the second period. The conversion was successfully converted by Treherne and the home team were back in front in this exciting and compelling contest.
The following fifteen minutes of play were undoubtedly the ones that won this game for Drybrook.
The Exeter team have been scoring try’s for fun this season and they threw the kitchen sink at Drybrook in an attempt to regain the lead. A massive defensive effort from all fifteen Drybrook players with big hits coming in from Greenway, Stevenson and Price who has been a rock for Drybrook this season in the midfield, eventually saw Drybrook counter ruck their opponents off the ball and the frustration on the faces of the Exeter players and coaching staff was all too clear to see, as Stevenson cleared the ball to touch.
Drybrook were now gaining control in the set
piece and their lineout was beginning to dominate with Mullane and man of the match Will Greenway, continually spoiling the oppositions throw in. From one such turnover at the lineout the Drybrook pack drove Exeter back and the ball was quickly recycled to Ben Large, the Drybrook captain, who rounded off a superb individual performance by beating the defenders to score the try he deserved. Treherne was again on target with the kick and the home crowd had hopes of not only winning the game but maybe adding a bonus try to complete their joyous afternoon.
The old saying of not counting your chickens was never more true as with quarter of an hour still to play Exeter were once again testing the resilience of the home team’s defence and after losing Tingle to the sin bin for over zealousness in the ruck, their fullback latched on to the final pass to put his side back in the hunt at twenty four points to eighteen in favour of the home team with eight minutes remaining.
Any fears of Exeter winning the game with a last minute score were soon allayed as Drybrook set about finishing the task with a good catch and drive from a lineout set up by an impressive touch find from Stevenson. The resulting catch and drive was pulled down illegally and the Exeter offender was sent to the bin. Up stepped Treherne to complete another one hundred per cent afternoon with the boot and take his team eight points clear.
With Drybrook back to full compliment, they were able to finish the game on top and record another memorable victory in what is fast becoming a rather remarkable season.
Drybrook – T. Treherne, H. Howard, B. Large,
D. Price, M. Baldwin, T. Stevenson, B. George,
C. Guest, A. Howells, M. Hale, W. Greenway,
L. Mullane, S. Peaper, J.Tingle, M. Bourne.
Replacements – L. Boon – R.Gardner – E. Beatie.
