Drybrook 29pts
Keynsham 8pts
With the overnight rain making the going good to soft, and the Keynsham stable in good form, this was always going to be a tough one for the favourite to win, even though all the early money had them at short odds on the book-makers card.
This was a hard combative game and by the time Drybrook had reached the final furlong they knew they had been tested to the full.
Keynsham despite their league position are more than capable of making the going difficult for anyone in the table. They worked tirelessly at the breakdown and brought an abrasiveness to the game that had the result in the balance until the final quarter.
A good crowd had assembled at the Manning’s and with the waft of Jabba’s burger van hanging in the still conditions Keynsham kicked off towards the clubhouse.
Drybrook started brightly with Renton and Hale bouncing off defenders and securing good possession for the home team.
After ten minutes it was Hale who was on hand to force his way over for the first try of the afternoon. Treherne converted and all was well with the world.
Keynsham though had no intention of being anyone’s whipping boys. They were tenacious at the breakdown and turned Drybrook over when the home team failed to get the support needed to the ball carrier.
Drybrook unusually this season were looking a little out of sorts and when Keynsham went over in the corner after fifteen minutes it was clear that they would have to dig deep to record victory against a spirited visiting team.
Their cause was not helped when five minutes
.
later an error at the breakdown led to Keynsham taking the lead with a well struck penalty.
Drybrook to their credit then lifted the intensity and began to use the ball to greater effect.
Stevenson who has been in terrific form all season, started to call the shots at outside half and with Large and Baldwin looking threatening it was clear to see that the Drybrook backs definitely held the edge over their counterparts.
The Keynsham defence was beginning to look ragged, and after a series of penalties for trying to slow the ball down their influential number eight was yellow carded for failing to roll away after the tackle.
Treherne stepped up to edge his team back in front from the resulting penalty on the thirty minute mark.
Keynsham were then reduced to thirteen after their second row pulled back one of the Drybrook attackers without the ball.
With the numerical advantage Drybrook were clinical in attack and the speed of Large created the opportunity for Price to go in unopposed. Treherne again slotted the kick and the half time whistle was blown with Drybrook holding a seventeen points to eight advantage.
The first twenty minutes of the second half followed a similar pattern to what had proceeded before, with Keynsham resolute in defence and Drybrook looking the more dangerous with ball in hand.
As the minutes ticked by it looked less than likely that the home team would secure the bonus point victory they craved, and if the Keynsham fullback had been successful with his penalty attempt mid-way through the half things could have been very tight going into the last quarter.
With the game entering its final throes Drybrook were at last starting to gain the upper hand.
Nott and Greenway who had worked hard all afternoon were well supported by the rest of the pack, with Jelf deputising at hooker putting in a solid performance. They were now making inroads into the Keynsham half and the pace of the backline proved deadly as Baldwin crossed the whitewash for a converted try that took Drybrook into an unassailable lead.
The only accomplishment left to achieve was the bonus point score and with the last play of the game Mitch Renton proved too powerful for the Keynsham defence, and the job was completed.
Summing up after the game Drybrook captain Ben Large captured the essence of this season’s success. He concluded the difference between this season and last is that Drybrook would have been disappointed with four points instead of five. Given the context that this was a hard game of rugby that asked a lot of his team to battle for the win, a lot must be said about the inner belief held by this group of players and coaching staff in what they are able to achieve.
Drybrook are now assured a place in the end of season play-offs and are still only one point behind leaders Exeter University with three games to play.
With no game next week Drybrook’s next match will be down in Cornwall in a fortnight’s time, where they will be taking on third placed Launceston in what is sure to be another hard fought encounter.
Drybrook 1st XV: T.Treherne, M.Baldwin, D.Price, B.Large (Captain), H.Howard, T.Stevenson, R.Marsh, M.Hale, D.Jelf, E.Beatie, W.Greenway, G.Nott, M.Bourne, S.Peaper, M.Renton.
Replacements: L Boon, L Mullane, L Roberts.
