Drybrook R.F.C. 31pts
Camborne R.F.C. 22pts
Drybrook secured their eleventh league victory of the season in a committed display against a good Camborne outfit.
On a bright Spring afternoon, the Mannings was treated to a great game of rugby between two good sides with Drybrook gaining the win they needed to move them closer to safety in this highly competitive league.
Camborne started the contest kicking away from the clubhouse. They recovered the ball and their hefty pack looked to take it on. A good tackle from Joe Tingle was followed up by Kyle Frowen who won the penalty when the Camborne forward failed to release the ball. From the lineout Drybrook attacked through their backs and Mitch Baldwin was brought down just short of the line. The ref who had been playing advantage brought play back to the twenty-two and awarded Drybrook a penalty for an offside infringement. Andy Milner in at fullback stepped up to claim the three points for the home team. They were not to keep the lead for long however. From the restart Camborne won the ball and attacked through their forwards who were awarded a scrum on the Drybrook twenty-two. The scrum half switched the ball to their speedy winger who ghosted in down the blindside. The conversion attempt rebounded off the right hand upright but Camborne were in the lead five points to three.
Play was then taken back into the Camborne half with Renton, Beatie and Howells leading the charge. The Camborne defence was resolute however and it was not until the twenty fifth minute that Drybrook managed to breach the line. Beatie burst through to take play over the Camborne twenty-two and when Mitch Renton picked up and drove to the five-metre line Drybrook were awarded a penalty for Camborne failing to roll away in the tackle.
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Ben Large playing at ten this week nudged the ball into touch for an attacking lineout. The ball was taken by Tingle to set up the driving maul and when the mass of bodies drove over the line it was fittingly Mitch Renton who got the touchdown to take his team into a three-point lead. Milner pushed the ball to the left of the posts in attempting the conversion and the score remained eight points to five in the home teams’ favour. Drybrook were doing well to prevent the Camborne backs any worthwhile ball, but when in their endeavour to score more points the ball passed back inside by Mitch Baldwin was picked up by the dangerous Camborne winger who sprinted in from the half-way line to score a converted try and give his side the half-time lead of twelve points to eight.
Drybrook started the second half in style lovely hands from Beatie, Frowen and Moore set up play on the visitors five metre line and when the ball came back to Large, he showed his power and pace to force himself over the line between the posts. Milner nailed the conversion and Drybrook were back in front by three points.
Typical of the way the game was going this lead was soon cancelled out when the Camborne outside-half stepped up to kick a penalty and level the scores at fifteen apiece.
Drybrook were fielding a strong bench, and when Greenway and Bourne came on, they used their power to take the ball at Camborne and earn their team a pot at goal when the visitors were forced to concede a penalty on the fifteen-minute mark. Milner put the kick over to take Drybrook three points in front.
Drybrook were monopolising possession and Milner was able to extend the lead after Camborne were forced to concede a penalty on twenty-five minutes.They then followed this up with a great try on thirty minutes. Tingle broke
the gain line and the quick hands of Marsh put Large through the gap, He drew the defender and passed the ball to Frowen who capped a fine individual display with a try between the posts. Milner added the extras and Drybrook were at last clear by twenty-eight points to fifteen. With five minutes left back came Camborne from a five-metre lineout they moved the ball wide and their fullback scored in the right corner. The conversion was successful and Camborne were back to within one converted try of taking the lead. Drybrook were not about to lose this though and they controlled the last five minutes of play through some excellent keep ball play. Milner denied the visitors a losing bonus point by converting a last-minute penalty to give Drybrook a deserved thirty-one points to twenty-two victory and take them nine points clear of the relegation battle after Cleve suffered a heavy defeat at home to Weston. Drybrook face Cleve next week in a game which could see Drybrook safe for next season if they win. However, a loss for Cleve would see them almost certainly relegated so there will be plenty on the line when these two meet.
This was an excellent victory to build on the previous win at Brixham. It would be hard to pick stand out players when the whole squad contributed to an impressive all-round display. Drybrook have got stronger as the season has gone on and with players still to come back things are looking rosy for the Village club who are mixing it with the big boy’s!
Drive on Dry!
DRYBROOK SQUAD: MILNER, MOORE, PRICE, BALDWIN, ROBERTS, LARGE, MARSH, TINGLE, FROWEN, WATTS, RENTON, MORGAN, HALE, HOWELLS, BEATIE, JELF, BOURNE, GREENWAY.
