Drybrook Rugby Club

Drybrook R.F.C 13pts
Barnstaple R.F.C 17pts

Should of and could of were phrases that were heard a lot in the clubhouse after Saturday’s game against top of the table Barnstaple. In all truthfulness though Drybrook will feel that they had only themselves to blame as ill discipline cost them dearly in an even match that could have gone either way.
When Barnstaple scored the deciding try with eight minutes remaining Drybrook only had thirteen players left on the pitch, and it does not need a mathematical genius to work-out that fifteen is a far better number in terms of players on the field.
Barnstaple will consider themselves fortunate that they still had the full compliment of players on the pitch after the high, no-arm tackle that led to a yellow card could easily have been red.
You may think reading this that the game was a somewhat over physical affair, but this was not the case.
Most of the infringements were for very easy to avoid elementary mistakes which should have been dealt with better by the players.
Barnstaple seemed to adapt better to the way the game was refereed, and when the vital decisions were made it was the home team who took the brunt of them.
Drybrook started the game well in front of a large crowd containing a number of Cinderford supporters who were enjoying a cheap day out.
They were producing quick ball and stretching the visitors defence, and it was well justified when they took the lead on the ten-minute mark

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with a good try from captain Ben Large converted by Tim Stevenson.
Barnstaple got back into the game and were awarded a penalty just inside the Drybrook half. Despite the kick clearly going into touch in goal the referee, on the advice of the Barnstaple second row decided to award a five-metre lineout.
Barnstaple used their impressive driving maul to take play up to the Drybrook line, and cross for a converted try which levelled the scores.
Drybrook came back and two minutes before half-time Tim Stevenson converted a penalty kick to put them into the lead.
Stevenson repeated this feat early in the second period when Barnstaple strayed off-side and the home team were good value for their six-point lead.
The one area of the game where Barnstaple were on top was in the driving mauls, and they used this tactic to score an unconverted try which brought the score to a slender one point advantage to Drybrook at thirteen-points to twelve.
The game then became disrupted by the amount of penalties being awarded which denied both teams the ability to make the game flow.
With the ref also producing a string of yellow cards the score remained the same until the Barnstaple wing took advantage of a two-player supremacy to score the all important try that took his team into the lead for the first time in the game.

Despite their lack of numbers Drybrook threw everything into the last five minutes.
With the clock ticking down Drybrook earned a line-out five metres from the opposition try line, but a poor execution led to the ball being turned over and the visitors clearing.
Drybrook, came back again, and it looked to everyone that they were certain to score as Mitch Hale drove through the middle to take the ball to the visitor’s line. Once again however the referee spotted some kind of infringement and Barnstaple gladly kicked the ball off the park to end a frustrating afternoon for players and spectators alike.
A losing bonus point seems scant reward for Drybrook but they will know in their heart of hearts that they should have dealt with the referee better and not conceded the amount of penalties that ultimately cost them the game.
On the plus side for Drybrook Bailey Watts was outstanding in defence and Mitch Bourne had a strong game returning at number eight for his first game back in the team this year.
Barnstaple remain unbeaten, but had the home team controlled their discipline better they could well have taken the win.
Next week we are on the road to Bracknell. Let us hope we can bounce back as we did at Newbury and grab the victory.

Drive on Dry and up the Squirrels!

Drybrook Squad: MOORE, ROBERTS, PRICE, LARGE, BALDWIN, STEVENSON, MARSH, BOURNE, FROWEN, WATTS, NOTT, GREENWAY, HALE, ADDIS, DAYNES, JELF, POWELL, TIMONY