Old Patesians 7pts
Drybrook 27pts
On a cold and windy afternoon with doom laden clouds threatening to send torrents of sleet and rain down upon them the Drybrook masses arrived at the base camp of Old Pats R.F.C Everest Road ground.
Drybrook were coming into the game after a hard-fought victory over Newton Abbot, and knew that if they were to continue their advancement up the league that victory was imperative.
Pats although bottom of league have pulled off some surprise victories at home and had tested Drybrook at the Manning’s earlier in the season.
Drybrook won the toss and elected to climb the North Face of the pitch in the first half.
Pats kicked off down the slope and Drybrook were straight into them.
The forwards set up good ball for the backs to move first left and then right to send Olly Moore in at the corner for the perfect start to the game.
Pats kicked long from the restart and maybe the over confidence of taking an early lead played a part in Drybrook opting to run the ball from their own line.
The ball was turned over after a loose pass and a converted try saw Pats take the lead.
Drybrook settled and began playing exceptional keep ball rugby.
Their set piece work was solid and the lineout was operating well, with Stretch finding Greenwood and Watts to set up numerous driving mauls.
The Old Pats defence was starting to tire, and they were penalised for lazy running on fifteen minutes. Clancy stepped up to stroke the
.
ball through the uprights and put his side back in the lead eight points to seven.
The next twenty minutes followed a similar pattern with Old Pats content to kick the ball down the slope and Drybrook maintain the higher percentage of possession.Drybrook were rewarded for their endeavour on the stroke of half-time.
The lineout provided the ball for Stevenson to put winger Mitch Baldwin into space and his power and agility proved to much for Pats as he forced his way over the line to score between the posts.
Clancy slotted the conversion and Drybrook took a deserved fifteen points to seven lead into the break.
The second half started with an error as Stevenson misjudged the considerable extra distance the ball would travel down the hill, and it rolled just over the dead ball line.
Play was brought back for a scrum on halfway. Pats kept possession and earned a couple of penalties which their nippy scrum-half took advantage of, making good ground for the home team.
It was now the defensive qualities of the Green Army that were called upon and Watts, Frowen and Price proved they were more than capable, putting in good hits, that eventually, after a series of scrums on the Drybrook line, led to a turnover.
Drybrook moved downfield and should have added to their score when they were awarded a penalty in front of the home teams posts.
Renton however decided to get involved in a spot
of retaliation and the penalty was reversed.
He made up for this misdemeanour by taking the ball back at the opposition to set up play just outside the Pats twenty-two.
The ball came back to Stevenson who neatly chipped the defence for Moore to collect and go over for his second try and increase the lead to twenty points to seven.
Drybrook were now well in control, and when Old pats lost a payer to the sin bin for repeatedly slowing down the ball, Frowen took advantage by crashing through the Pats ranks for a well-deserved try, converted by Clancy.
The rest of the game was played out in the Pats half, where the home team were becoming increasingly frustrated at their inability to create anything worthwhile. This eventually led to their prop being sent off for a punch on Drybrook hooker Ashley Howells.
Even though he had tears in his eyes Howells took the punch well and I am sure he will be O’K for the next game!
Stevenson tapped the resulting penalty and sent the ball into touch to end the game in a very well organised win for his team.
Drybrook climbed two places in the league and now have a week’s break before their next game against Barnstaple at the Manning’s on the ninth of February.
Drive on Dry!
DRYBROOK SQUAD: WINFIELD, MOORE, PRICE, LARGE, BALDWIN, STEVENSON, CLANCY, BOURNE, FROWEN, WATTS, RENTON, GREENWAY, SEVILLE, STRETCH, BEATIE, TINGLE, HOWELLS, JELF.
