Barnstable 25pts
Drybrook 20pts
The green army travelled to Barnstaple knowing that any points they brought back to the mannings would be a bonus with injuries and unavailability’s starting to take its toll on this young squad. On reflection they were very unlucky not to come away with more of the spoils in a fantastic game of rugby which was a credit to both sides and enjoyed by the very large crowd who turned up to watch in the glorious Devon sunshine.
The game kicked off and Barnstaple started at a frenetic pace which the Drybrook side were finding difficult to live with. The ball was being moved through forwards and backs from breakdown to out wide and only some resolute defence kept the Barum out for as long as they did. The breakthrough did come however on 5 minutes when after recycling quick ball and the Drybrook defence stretched Clark was put over in the corner to make it 5 v 0 without a Drybrook player having touched the ball except Ben large who had started the match with his boot.
With Barnstaple then regaining the restart, once again the pace of there attack was blistering and it started to look a bit ominous for the Drybrook players and travelling support but slowly these young players started to get there hands on the ball and started to take some control in the game but just as there attack the Barnstaple defence was equally up to the task with some robust tackling. With the sting taken out of the Barnstaple attack, or quite simply they were tiring from their fast start Clancey reduced the deficit with a penalty on 21 minutes, but Murphey replied on 30 to give the home team an 8 v 3 advantage.
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The Drybrook forwards were starting to test the home defence now with some great work around the park and when O’Malley burst through it looked like a try was on the cards, but a desperate tackle and some scurrying defence kept Drybrook out. Drybrook were now camped on the Barum line but could find no way through and a thunderous tackle on Renton stopped the powerhouse from bullocking over.
However not everything was lost as the tackler was deemed offside so Clancey again put over the penalty to send Drybrook in at Halt time 8 v 6 down.
Taffy Howells kept the supporters entertained during the interval with a rendition of ‘The Green Green grass of home’ too much amusement, and soon the game was back underway with Drybrook starting how they had finished the 1st half in the ascendancy. Drybrook were playing great rugby now with Bourne and Greenway driving hard into the heart of the Barum and within 4 minutes a quick recycled ball was given to Price who in turn moved it to Baldwin who was unstoppable from 25 metres out to score in the corner. Clancey converted from the touchline to completely silence the home supporters and give Drybrook an 8 v 13 advantage.
An even game developed for the next 20 minutes but the young Drybrook side looked well in control of there own destiny.
A few costly mistakes however then undid all the hard work and with the home team applying pressure on the Drybrook line only some heroic defence kept them out but on 65 minutes the line was breached when Angel bulldozed his way over from a few yards out which McManus converted.
A McManus penalty a few minutes later gave the home side an 18 v 13 advantage.
Barnstaple could smell blood now and went at Drybrook for all they were worth and again camped on Drybrooks line were given a Penalty try for a collapsed maul.
At 25 v 13 the home support thought the game was up for the visitors, but this young team is made of sterner stuff and refused to capitulate and set about restoring some pride which they did after some great forward offloading put them in the opposition red zone. The ball was moved to Large whose exquisite hands put Roberts over which was converted by Clancey to make it 25 v 20.
A grandstand finale was in order as Drybrook kept their composure and worked there way up field again. Keeping hold of possession, it seemed Drybrook were going to have the final say but just as looked like they were going to score a loose pass let the Barum off the hook and the ball was cleared.
Drybrook again came but once again just as they looked likely to score the ball was lost in contact and the ball was cleared to signal the end of the game much to the relief of the home support.
Drybrook came away with a losing bonus point and great respect from the opposition but it could have been a lot more. Particularly pleasing was how young this side was and how well they all played.
Drybrook Squad: 1) Shay O’Malley 2) Ashley Howells 3) Elliott Beattie 4) Mitchell Renton 5) Will Greenway 6) Kyle Frowen 7) Bailey Watts 8) Mitch Bourne 9) James Clancy 10) Ben Large 11) Mitch Baldwin 12) Luke Kell 13) Danny Price 14) Luke Roberts 15) Ollie Moore 16) Bertie Stretch 17) Ethan Seville 18) Dec Fissenden
