Brixham R.F.C 10pts
Drybrook R.F.C. 17pts
Drybrook made the long journey to Brixham still smarting from the previous week’s injustice against Bracknell.
Again, the team showed a number of changes, but as usual the players coming in to the starting line up were more than capable of stepping up to the mark.
The overnight rain had cleared to leave a blustery bright afternoon and the good sized Drybrook contingent in the crowd cheered their team onto the pitch ready for the next instalment of this exciting season.
Brixham kicked off down the sloping pitch with the wind in their favour.
Drybrook fielded the ball and immediately were on the attack. The combination of Morgan, Moore and Baldwin in the back three is proving to be a real threat and their willingness to attack given any opportunity is a potent weapon in the Drybrook armoury.
Drybrook needed a good start and got exactly the opposite. In their ambition to take the game to the opposition they lost the ball in contact. A swift counter attack from the hosts saw their winger race down the right-hand touchline, he fed inside to the supporting, impressively named, J.P Simonetti who squeezed in for the opening try. There was some confusion as the home team touch judge raised his flag to give his player out of bounds but the ref overruled him and the try stood. The conversion rebounded off the posts and with only three minutes played the hosts were five points in front.
Brixham were soon back in Drybrook territory after they were awarded a penalty at the breakdown and kicked to the corner.
Drybrook defended well, and Kyle Frowen was strong over the ball to earn his team a penalty, and the chance to clear their lines.
Drybrook were now in full flow, Tingle, Renton and Beatie were carrying hard, and when Beatie
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slipped a sublime pass out of the back of his hand, who should be in support but the old maestro Neil Morgan, who is still holding back the years to prove himself a vital member of this impressive team. Morgan crossed under the posts and young fly-half Joe Winfield stepped up to add the extras and put his team into the lead seven points to five with twenty-two minutes on the clock.
Drybrook continued to press and the penalty count was high in their favour as Brixham struggled to contain the likes of Hale and Large who continually probed the opposition defences.
On the half hour mark Brixham kicked long downfield and a good follow up saw them earn a scrum on the Drybrook five metre line.
The Drybrook scrum held firm but the ball was retrieved by Brixham who were able to recycle the possession and release their backs for Simonetti to claim his second try of the afternoon and give his team a ten-points to seven half time lead.
With the slope and wind in their favour Drybrook started the second half strongly. Seville had joined the fray and took great delight in dismantling the home teams scrummage to earn his team a shot at goal.
Confident Winfield slotted the kick and Drybrook were back on terms at ten apiece.
Back came Brixham and Drybrook were forced to defend manfully. Watts and Tingle were putting in some big hits up front and Danny Price was ensuring there was no way through the centre. A knock-on gave Drybrook the put in at the scrum and the front-row led by Howells earned the visitors another penalty. The lineout was won and Drybrook let loose Moore on the wing.
His initial pace and chip over the top gave him the chance to collect the ball and sprint in to retrieve the lead for Drybrook. Winsfield converted and the visitors were clear by seven.
Drybrook continued to hold the advantage and the penalty count against the home team was well into double figures. Winfield was unlucky to see a sixtieth minute attempt drift wide and Brixham were relieved that the ref did not feel the need to issue any cards despite the amount of discrepancies on the home teams’ behalf.
With only a try and conversion separating the teams back came Brixham, but more stout defending from Drybrook and great discipline ensured that their line was not breached again.
Drybrook finished the game in the ascendancy, with their scrum on top and their defence solid, they were able to safely see out the remainder and earn a valuable four points on the road.
This was as good a Drybrook performance as we have seen this season and plaudits go to the whole squad, especially the young half-back pairing of Marsh and Winfield, on a day that could not have gone any better for the Green Army.
If the team had been galvanised on the field by his Dad then it was young Bradley Morgan who led the way in the after-match celebration. His vocal rendition of Where do we come from, will, I am sure, live long in the memories of the Brixham contingent, who were trying to enjoy England’s game against Italy.
The Brixham hospitality was overwhelming and the Drybrook Pikey’s returned to their caravan park full of gin and the joys of the day.
Well done Drybrook on a well-deserved victory. We now have a week off before our next game at home against Camborne.
Drive on Dry!
Drybrook Squad: MORGAN, MOORE, PRICE, LARGE, BALDWIN, WINFIELD, MARSH, TINGLE, FROWEN, WATTS, RENTON, MORGAN, HALE, HOWELLS, BEATIE, JELF, CLANCY, SEVILLE.
