Matson 17pts
Drybrook 36pts
Don’t be fooled by the score line, the Drybrook boys were made to work for this result with a gutsy display which could very much define their season.
Matson started down the slope and started as they meant to go on with a ferocity that the Matson sides of old would have been proud of and after 5 minutes of play they had opened their account with a converted try by there No.10 who raced through the gap after continuous pressure in the Drybrook half. The slope acting like a 16th man Drybrooks scrum was in all sorts of trouble and with Matson defending as if there lives depended on it, it was hard for Drybrook to get a foothold in the game. This team can play rugby though and were gradually starting to take a grip on the game and after several false dawns they managed to score out wide through Joe Tingle after some fine play up field and several pick and goes.
Disaster then struck as from the kick off Tim Stevenson was charged down and the No.4 galloped through to touch down under the sticks which was duly converted.
With tihe clock approaching half time Drybrook were throwing everything at the home defence
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and after some great hands out wide Rhys Gardner was put clear to go over in the corner to make the score 14 v 10 at half time and keep Drybrook in the hunt.
The 2nd half ensued with again both sides giving no quarter as hits and tackles were going in at a rate of knots with both teams engaged in an old-fashioned slug fest but as at the end of the 1st half Drybrook were starting to take the upper hand. With the Drybrook scrum now totally dominant and the line out reigning supreme, Matson were finding it extremely difficult to get any possession. Drybrook were now camped on the Matson line and it was no surprise when Glenn Nott barged his way over and the conversion was a formality for Stevenson. A rare venture in the Drybrook half resulted in a Matson penalty which was impressively slotted over by the Matson 9 to bring his side back into contention but that was as good as it got for the home side. Drybrook were in full flow now playing some superb front foot rugby and already having one try disallowed, Tim Stevenson rolled back the years jinking his through a stretched defence to score which he once again converted, Stevenson would have another try disallowed later on
Once again Drybrook went straight down field and after a superb driving line out which made 40 metres to the try line Luke Boon was at the bottom of the pile to score the try which was again converted by Stevenson. Drybrook were now moving the ball about with an air of confidence and it was no surprise when the supreme Poacher Sam Peaper was put over in the corner to score which ended up being the final score. Stevenson and Large took control of the final minutes with some astute kicking to the corners to run the clock down.
Another victory and another man of the match performance by Nott but there were several players who ran him close with Captain Ben Large having another fine display in midfield. Drybrook ran out comfortable winners in the end but take nothing away from Matson this was as hard a game as there could have been. All credit to the Drybrook lads, a team with less character would have succumbed to the Armageddon the home side threw at them.
Drive on Dry!
Drybrook 1st XV: 15 Gardner 14 Howard 13 Price 12 Large captain 11 Baldwin 10 Stevenson 9 George 8 Bourne 7 Tingle 6 Peaper 5 Nott 4 Greenway 3 jelf 2 Howells 1 Boon
Replacements: 16 Guest 17 Mullane 18 Roberts
