Bracknell R.F.C 30pts
Drybrook R.F.C 20pts
Drybrook travelled to Bracknell in the hope of picking up points after two good games against Barnstaple and Bournemouth.
A very lacklustre first half however did nothing to help their cause and they will need to be more switched on in the coming weeks if they are going to make progress at this level.
Bracknell started the livelier and took the lead after five minutes when winger Conor Segre touched down in the left hand corner.
Drybrook then had a little purple patch, first James Clancy landed a penalty and then on thirteen minutes impressive flanker Sam Peaper showed good speed and power to score a try for the visitors.
Drybrook were guilty of not looking after the ball in contact allowing Bracknell easy possession, and only good defending denied them a try as the ball was held up in the Drybrook end zone.
From the scrum Bracknell created the space for their fullback Gabe Hills to cross under the posts and Hardwicke added the simple conversion to put the home team back in the lead. Worse was to follow for Drybrook as on the thirty minute mark they again lost the ball in contact allowing Bracknell to counter attack, and stylish winger
.
Segre was able to score his second of the game. The conversion was good and Bracknell had opened an eleven point lead which they maintained until the break. It was sad that in the build up to their final try Bracknell prop and former Drybrook player Nick Ovens sustained a nasty injury to his elbow which saw him leave the field. All at Drybrook hope the injury is not too bad and wish Nick a speedy recovery. But judging by the way Nick squealed it could take some time.
The highlight of the afternoon came during the half-time interval when former Drybrook coach and International fitness guru Frazer McArdell paraded his new girlfriend Rachel across the pitch to bring some cheer to the travelling support.
The second half got underway and it was not long before Bracknell had scored again as they drove over following an attacking line-out.
At last Drybrook were spurred into action.
First Mitch Baldwin carved his way through the Bracknell defence for a good try and on the seventy minute mark a good drive from the forwards saw them over the line for another touchdown. This brought the visitors back to
within four points at twenty four points to twenty.
A serious injury to young replacement flanker Dec Fissendon meant that play was held up in order to stretcher the injured player from the field and be taken to hospital. Again we wish all the best to Dec and hope that he won’t be side-lined for too long.
The break did nothing to help Drybrook’s momentum and in the last ten minutes Bracknell were awarded two rather harsh penalties to extend the winning score to thirty points to twenty ensuring Drybrook took nothing from the game.
The players will be disappointed that they were not able to match their performances of recent weeks, but sometimes that’s the way the cookie crumbles and I am sure they will come back firing after a break next week with no league games scheduled.
Drive on Dry!
Drybrook 1st XV: O Moore, M Baldwin, D Price,
B Large (Capt.) L Roberts, H Winfield, J Clancy,
E Beatie, A Howells , Shay, W Greenway, B Watts, K Frowen, S Peaper, M Bourne, D Fissendon, J Seville, D Jelf.
