Drybrook Rugby Club

Exeter University 28pts
Drybrook 31pts

Everyone knew that to beat the league leaders on their own ground would take an extraordinary effort on behalf of the Drybrook team.
If anyone had any doubt about what sort of effort this would require after, eight minutes of play and a blistering start by the home team, which saw them fourteen points up curtesy of two converted try’s, the task that lay before them was now patently clear.
The first try came in the first minute. The game had been switched to the University’s artificial playing surface. The awkward bounce of the ball from the kick-off was judged to have made contact with one of the Drybrook pack on its way into touch a few metres from the visitor’s line. The resulting lineout was driven over and the try awarded.
Almost from the restart the Exeter outside half showed great pace to break a tackle in midfield before timing a perfect pass to the supporting centre who cruised in between the posts.
To say the travelling fans who were there in good numbers were slightly concerned may be something of an understatement.
Two minutes later though the men in green were on the attack themselves and after a series of assaults on the Exeter line it was Joe Tingle who stretched out an arm to open Drybrook’s account.
The game was being played at a frantic pace and both teams were making big hits in defence as well as attacking with abandon.
On fifteen minutes the Exeter second row was guilty of not rolling away from the tackle and up stepped Tom Treherne to convert the penalty and bring Drybrook back to within one score.
Exeter continued to play all out attacking rugby and the Drybrook players were forced to defend heroically as the big Exeter loose forwards charged into the fray.
Tingle whose determination in defence has always been admirable suffered a blow to the head after taking the ball into contact and was forced to leave the field.
It is a shame for him and the club that he will be forced to miss the next few weeks as result of concussion.
He was replaced by Mitch Renton who stepped up to the task admirably, always looking to carry and take the game to the opposition.
In the thirty fourth minute of play Tim Stevenson cleverly opened the Exeter defence with a subtle pass to Captain Ben Large who powerfully crossed the Exeter try line to put his team in front. Treherne converted and the score was 17pts pts to 14pts in Drybrook’s favour.

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Despite more pressure applied by the home team Drybrook were able to keep their lead intact until the interval.
If the start to the first half had been catastrophic the start of the second was euphoric as Stevenson extended the Drybrook lead with a superb try that the Exeter defence were incapable of stopping. His celebration to the home team supporters who had been less than courteous to him was a sight to behold.
Drybrook had recovered from a fourteen point deficit to lead by eight however this was to be short lived.
From the restart Exeter kicked long and put the visitors under pressure. Drybrook cleared their lines but were unable to make sufficient distance to thwart a well- executed catch and drive from the home team. Despite the fact that they had already scored the Referee decided to award a penalty try which meant no need for the conversion.
Back again came Drybrook and good carries from Greenway and Renton made space for Price and Baldwin to exploit. Once again the Exeter team were forced to concede a penalty in the tackle and Treherne made them pay by coolly slotting the kick.
The action was non-stop and Hubert at fullback for Drybrook was always looking to counter attack. He made a lovely break from inside his own half with, Treherne and Price in support Drybrook again had the home side in trouble and they were forced to give another three points away after being caught offside at the breakdown.

The second half was now in its twenty fifth minute and the pace was still unrelenting.
Stevenson was again the architect of the Drybrook attack and he opened a space to put Baldwin through to take play up to the Exeter twenty two metre line.
Their defence was again slow at moving away from the tackle and Treherne was able to give his team a little breathing space with another well struck penalty kick.
The Exeter replacements who were coming on the field would easily grace most first fifteens of higher levels. After a lapse in concentration at the scrum the Drybrook side were penalised for not feeding the ball quickly enough. The Exeter replacement scrum half, a class act, quickly darted in for a try, which after the successful conversion brought the score back to a three point advantage in favour of the visitors.
The final ten minutes were almost impossible to bear as Exeter threw everything at Drybrook in an attempt to claim victory. On thirty seven minutes they were awarded a penalty inside the Drybrook twenty two. With the confidence of youth they decided to kick the ball to touch in order to gain a position from which they could secure the winning score.
The Exeter Fly Half over cooked his kick and the ball clearly went over the line in touch and goal and Drybrook should have been given a twenty two drop out.
The Referee however overruled the better sighted linesman after being pressured by the home team and awarded a lineout to Exeter five metres from the Drybrook line.
Karma came into play as the Exeter second row failed to catch the ball cleanly and Drybrook had the put in to the scrum after he had knocked on.
Drybrook kept possession to see out the game and a remarkable victory had been achieved.
Despite the obvious advantages of being able to call on a vast array of players who do not need to be recruited, facilities that are not available to most club’s all afforded to them by public funding this University team were still undone by the passion and commitment of a small village rugby team who no matter what happens this season have already given their supporters plenty to proud of.

Drybrook 1st XV: C Hurbert, T, Treherne, D. Price, B. Large, M. Baldwin T. Stevenson, B, George, M.Hale, A. Howells, L Boon, G. Nott, W. Greenway, S. Peaper, J.Tingle, M. Bourne
Replacements: C, Guest, M, Renton, D.Jelf