Maidenhead 40pts
Drybrook 27pts
For much of this game the Drybrook boys were under the cosh, with the big Maidenhead pack rumbling forward and their backs efficient and at times ruthless, this was the hardest eighty minutes the Manning’s men had been forced to endure in this campaign. Did they crumble? Did they hell as like! Instead they showed the resilience that is going to be needed to see them competing at this level again next season.
The defining moments of the game came just before the break and in the first ten minutes of the second half when Maidenhead got the try’s that would see them take control and ultimately seal victory.
On a gloomy afternoon the Drybrook bandwagon rolled into the affluent Berkshire suburbs the home of Maidenhead R.F.C.
With a stiff Westerly breeze at their backs Drybrook started promisingly and good pressure was rewarded after ten minutes when Maidenhead were caught offside in central midfield. Tim Stevenson easily converted to put the visitors into the lead.
Almost immediately Maidenhead hit back when a strong forward drive saw Ryan Long latch on to Dave Cole’s offload to cross for their first try.
Six minutes later an untimely slip from Drybrooks full back on the artificial surface was punished when the Maidenhead second-row who had broken through the Drybrook defence kicked ahead, he was able to capitalise on the Drybrook misfortune by diving on the ball as it crossed the visitor’s line.
At twelve – three down Drybrook rallied and produced some excellent play which should have produced more than just the three points they earned from another well struck penalty from Stevenson.
With only a minute left until the break Maidenhead unleashed their big Zimbabwean International winger Dylan Baptista, who after a flowing move from the home teams back-line, crossed the try line. Runciman added the conversion to bring the half time score of nineteen points to six in favour of the home team.
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There was a brief moment of excitement during the interlude as the wind picked up and lifted the blanket off the knees of some of the Drybrook ladies who had taken up position in the front of the stand. The Maidenhead touch-judge had to be sedated after he described what he had seen and was replaced by a less traumatised member of the Maidenhead back-up team for the start of the next period.
The first ten minutes of the second half were hard to bare for the Drybrook contingent, who as always had taken a good number to add to the three hundred and fifty odd crowd.
Before their half-time cocoa had cooled their team had been hit by another three try’s, and the worst was feared as with only fifty minutes on the clock, and Maidenhead in full flow a heavy defeat looked almost inevitable.
Foxley had got the first after picking up a chip through from Macaulay.
This was then added to by Berry, who got his second of the afternoon after barging over from the back of the scrum.
The trio of try’s was finished off by Foxley who again found himself the recipient of a fine back-line move by Maidenhead.
All these scores were converted by the impeccable boot of Runciman and with the score at forty points to six you could have forgiven the Drybrook boy’s for giving up heart with the task in front of them.
Heart is one thing though these boys are in plenty supply of. They may not possess the playing budget of a number of teams at this level but they sure as hell can match them when it comes to pride and passion.
The last half an hour of the game totally belonged to the Green Army whose endeavours nearly brought them a bonus point that only minutes before had seemed impossible.
First Mitch Baldwin collected a lovely floated pass from his captain to sprint clear and grab his team’s first try.
Stevenson converted and from the restart Large again was the catalyst as his break made space for Frowen to go in close to the uprights for another converted score.
Beatie was the next to go over the shell-shocked Maidenhead line when he crashed through following a typical bullocking run.
Unfortunately, there was only time left on the clock for Stevenson to add the drop kick, and the vital score that could have brought dividends was just beyond them.
On reflection Maidenhead were more than good value for their win, and all at Drybrook wish them well in their bid for promotion. They are without doubt the most well-equipped side we have come against this season and we can take a great deal of confidence from the way we competed in the final thirty minutes.
The next few weeks will prove vital in the future of where we play next season with games against the sides in and around us coming up.
Next week see’s Newton Abbott at the Manning’s followed by a trip to Old Pats and Drybrook will see each of these fixtures as virtual cup finals in our bid to stay up.
There was still time in the day for Club Chairman Chris Rawlings to regale former England centre Will Greenwood of his feats of yester-year and remind him of how he had stepped inside him for a try that no one other than Chris was able to recall.
Will complemented us on our game and was very appreciative of the way we had tidied the changing rooms, as this is now usually his role at Maidenhead.
Well done boys on another spirited display, something we can hopefully expand on next week.
Drive on Dry !
Drybrook Squad: WINFIELD, MOORE, PRICE, LARGE, BALDWIN, STEVENSON, CLANCY, BOURNE, FROWEN, PEAPER, RENTON, GREENWAY, SEVILLE, STRETCH, BEATIE, HALE, WATTS, JELF.
