Forest of Dean Senior Combination Cup Final
Cinderford Utd 15pts
Drybrook R.F.C 13pts
Drybrook arrived at the home of Cinderford rugby Dockham Road on Sunday looking to add the Forest of Dean Combination Cup to an already very impressive season’s résumé’.
The sun was beating down on a perfect surface and the scene was set for what was to be an excellent final between two very good teams.
Drybrook had been forced into making a number of changes to the team that secured the league against Newent, but this gave the opportunity to a number of rising talent from the Drybrook Mini and Junior production line a chance to experience a taste of high level rugby in a high profile match.
Drybrook kicked off towards the Co-Op and showed their intent from the start with big hits coming in from all angles.
Cinderford looked to make ground using their big forwards and gained reward when the ref penalised Drybrook for failing to release the player in the tackle.
From the resulting lineout Cinderford looked to roll the maul infield but a big hit by Tingle with his back row partners in close support earned Drybrook a penalty as the Cinderford six failed to release the ball in time.
Drybrook’s Tim Stevenson put in a perfect touch kick to take play into the Cinderford half and an infringement at the lineout led to the first scoring opportunity of the game which Treherne nailed from thirty five metre’s out on the right hand side.
The Manning’s outfit were set on playing an expansive game and with Cinderford’s contrast in style with a more forward orientated approach an absorbing opening to the game was underway.
Following a high tackle on Renton Drybrook again were given the opportunity to take play into the oppositions half. A good lineout take by Greenway was driven forwards before ex Cinderford back row man Mitch Bourne spotted the open space on the blind-side and made a searing break to set up a ruck just outside the home teams twenty two.
Young Regan Marsh who has made a name for himself in his first season in the seniors, sent the ball whizzing out to the backs and good hands from Stevenson and Large created an opening for Danny Price to sprint in under the posts for a try on his birthday.
Treherne converted and Drybrook moved into a deserved ten point lead.
Unfortunately for Drybrook the next passage of play resulted in big carrying prop forward Mitch Hale having to sign off his season early as he was forced to the touchline with a hamstring strain.
Cinderford might have been stung in the first quarter but they were now looking to get back in the game and some excellent ball retention after a number of phases of play gave the chance for their inside centre to power round the outside to open their account.
Typical of how the game was being played back came Drybrook using the pace of their backs and after good breaks by Captain Ben Large and winger Mitch Baldwin play was again taking place in Cinderford territory.
A miss move orchestrated by Stevenson resulted in Large being taken out off the ball and earning him a nice little battle scar on the chin to remember the game by.
Treherne kicked the penalty from thirty metres
out on the right and Drybrook tails were wagging once more.
Continued pressure saw the Cinderford hooker sin binned after repeated offences at the breakdown and Drybrook looked to have taken advantage only for play to be brought back after a fine break by Boon, as the last pass was adjudged forward.
The Cinderford scrum was as solid as ever and they used the ball well to take play into the Drybrook half for the first time since scoring their try, good defence from replacement prop Jelf and a turnover from number eight Bourne however again released the Drybrook backline and the ball was moved up-field before Cinderford managed to bundle the ball into touch on their own ten metre line.
The lineout was taken by Greenway, but he had the ball removed from him by the Cinderford Blindside who the ref adjudged to be in an offside position and sent him rather harshly to the dug-out for a ten minute breather.
Drybrook with the numerical supremacy should really have taken advantage to add to their score but to Cinderfords credit they came back at Drybrook with a vengeance and only great work in defence led by Greenway and Renton supported by some big hits from Stevenson and Howard prevented them from adding to their earlier score.
With half time approaching Drybrook again turned on the style and a lovely break by Price ended with Drybrook being given the penalty as Cinderford did their best to prevent quick ball being played from the breakdown.
Treherne again struck the ball well but agonisingly saw it rebound off the upright to allow Cinderford to clear and bring an end to the first half proceedings, which saw Drybrook deservedly leading thirteen points to five.
The second half started in the same vein as the first had ended. Renton fielded and carried the ball strongly back to the men in amber and gold to set up the ruck. Marsh was on hand to pass to Stevenson who created space for Large to ghost through and take play to the Cinderford twenty two, support however was not on hand and Cinderford had time to realign and prevent the try albeit that their twelve was offside and penalised in the process.
The next phase looked certain to have brought a try in the corner for Mitch Baldwin but the Cinderford twelve made amends with a fantastic try saving cover tackle.
This lifted the home team’s spirits and they began to exploit their advantage at the scrum to earn themselves penalties and field position.
The resources Cinderford had on the bench were now being used to good effect Jack Shields made an instant impact with his carries and work at the breakdown. Jacks Dad and Grandparents are Drybrook people through and through so it’s no wonder he’s a decent player !
Drybrook were now having to work hard to stem the flow of the Cinderford onslaught and to a man they did so admirably and an excellent kick up the pitch by Large following a turn-over by Tingle relieved the pressure.
Cinderford however won another penalty at the scrum and a good kick to the corner enabled them to execute a perfect catch and drive to score in the corner.
At thirteen points to ten the game was in the balance and both teams were giving their all. Attack was met by ferocious defence and the toll was beginning to tell on the Drybrook men who
did not have the luxury of an impact bench to come on. Drybrook did make one change when Bailey Watts came onto the pitch to make his debut in the backrow to replace Sam Peaper who had worked like a dog all afternoon. The Young Watts fitted straight in and was soon in the thick of the action making tackles and carrying good ball forward.
Ben Large was having a storming game and was again the architect of an incursion into the Cinderford half, again if support had been able to get to him in time a try scoring chance would surely have been taken.
Back came Cinderford and they too should have scored but a penalty for crossing in the middle of the park allowed Drybrook to clear.
Next came the defining moment of the game as on thirty minutes Drybrook were awarded a scrum on their own twenty two after Cinderford had knocked on at the lineout.
The ball was won and in hindsight would probably have been better off kicked up-field.
Drybrook this season have backed themselves to score from anywhere on the pitch and in attempting to run the ball out they gifted the Cinderford replacement winger a try to take his side into the lead for the first time in the game. The conversion was missed and with only two points separating the teams Drybrook were back on the attack looking for a way to steal back the win. On thirty six minutes it looked as though they had achieved their goal as they were awarded a penalty thirty yards out just to the left of the posts.
Up stepped Treherne, who has been immaculate with the boot this season, to take the shot at goal. To his and everyone else’s surprise the ball drifted just wide and despite all their effort Drybrook could not muster another scoring chance and so ended the day valiant in defeat.
Congratulations to Cinderford whose power from the bench made the difference on the day.
We would like to thank them for their hospitality and being part of a memorable match which showcased the best of Forest rugby. The game was played in excellent spirit and produced a thrilling final.
Drybrook have had an excellent season and although victory would have put the top hat on it they can hold their heads high for effort they put in.
Everyone at Drybrook is immensely proud of this team and what they have achieved.
We are an amateur side who rely on the boys playing for the love of the shirt and the pride of the club. Each and every one of the players who have represented the club this season have been excellent. We have reached a level of rugby I did not think possible for a club with our resources.
Ben Large has been an example to all this year and his personal performance in the final showed his commitment and ability to the full.
I would personally like to thank each and every player from the firsts to the thirds for donning the green and making the club I love a very special place to be.
Drive on Dry !
Drybrook 1st XV: T Treherne, M Baldwin, D Price , B Large ( Capt), H Howard, T Stevenson, R Marsh, M Bourne, J Tingle, G Nott, W Greenway, M Hale, M Renton, L Boon
Replacements: D Jelf, B Watts, C-A Howlett, R Gardener
