Drybrook 1st XV 14pts
Bournemouth 1st XV 27pts
With the first taste of winter descending on the Manning’s, Drybrook’s young side were up against league leaders Bournemouth who had won all of their previous games scoring over three hundred points in the process.
Oscar and Taffy were well wrapped up against the elements and Jean had made them one of her special flasks of hot chocolate, which Taffy had stored under the duvet they were sharing.
Bournemouth kicked off playing towards the clubhouse. Mitch Renton took the ball and tore into the visitors setting up good ball on the Drybrook twenty two.
The ball was quickly recycled and Will Greenway carried well up to the ten metre line. Young outside half Winfield put in a good kick to take play deep into Bournemouth territory but a very good clearance saw the ball make touch just outside the Drybrook twenty two. The ball was well taken by Greenway who fed Renton to once again make inroads into the visitors defence. Bournemouth though were first to the breakdown and were able to turn the ball over allowing them to attack down the right. The ball was then switched to the left where centre Gleadowe fed back inside for supporting lock Hennings who scored against the run of play in the corner. Fly half Pope was off target with the kick but Bournemouth had moved into an early five point lead.
Undaunted Drybrook came storming back and three minutes later they had tied the scores, after Captain Ben Large stepped back inside the onrushing defenders to jink his way over the line. Scrum half James Clancy added the conversion and the home team led by two.
Drybrook at this point were playing all the rugby and after good play by Renton and Bourne good
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hands from Winfield released the potent Large, who again carved his way through beforeoffloading to Olly Moore on the line to score the try. Clancy made no mistake with the conversion and Drybrook took a deserved fourteen points to five lead.
Bournemouth regained the ball at the restart, but a thumping tackle from Hale forced a turnover and the home team were once again on the attack. Good kicks in behind from Winfield kept the visitors under pressure, and in attempting to run the ball out of defence the ball was knocked on giving Drybrook a scrum on the oppositions ten metre line.
What should have been a good position for Drybrook was spoiled by their inability to secure the set piece, and Bournemouth were able to clear the ball into touch in the Drybrook twenty two.
Drybrook took the ball at the lineout and again Renton drove forward to set up play just outside the Drybrook twenty two. A bout of kicking ended with the Bournemouth team attempting to run the ball only to lose possession through another knock on.
Again the Drybrook scrum was disrupted and Bournemouth were able to attack where the ball was moved to strong running centre Chislett who set up a ruck on the Drybrook line, prop Davies was on hand to force his way over. This time the conversion was successful and the half time score was a rather unflattering fourteen points to twelve to the home team, who despite their frailties at the scrum had been the dominant team for the first forty.
Injuries to hooker Ashley Howells, prop Hale and promising debutant Winfield didn’t help the Drybrook cause in the second period.
They did however have the first scoring opportunity on fifty five minutes when Clancy was just short with a penalty attempt from long range.
Drybrook although coming under increasing pressure, were still holding the lead as the hour mark approached, and should have been able to clear their lines after good work at the breakdown by Frowen. He turned over the opposition ball and had placed it at the back of the Drybrook ruck. Chiswell who was clearly offside came in to take out the Drybrook scrumhalf which allowed Ali Bennett to gather the loose ball and cross the line unopposed. The easy conversion gave Bournemouth the lead for the first time in the match nineteen points to fourteen.
The rest of the game was a hard fought battle that provided no real chances at either end.
Bournemouth dominance at the scrum led to them increasing their lead by adding a penalty from Pope on seventy four minutes, and in the tenth minute of injury time they scored a bonus point try from another scrum to win the game twenty seven points to fourteen.
Drybrook for their part had certainly given the league leaders a game, and stand-out performances from Renton, Large and new boy Winfield will give them plenty of confidence to carry forward into their next game away at Bracknell.
Drive on Dry !
Drybrook Squad: O Moore, M Baldwin, D Price, B Large (Capt) L Roberts, H Winfield, J Clancy, E Beatie, A Howells , M Hale, W Greenway, M Renton, B Watts, K Frowen, M Bourne, , A Stretch, D Jelf, D Fissendon.
