Nail Biter!

Bracknell R.F.C 17pts
Drybrook R.F.C 18pts

With the rain pouring down Drybrook kicked off with the slight slope in their favour and applied early pressure to take play into the Bracknell twenty-two.
The ball went into touch and Bracknell won the line-out to set up their own attack into the Drybrook half.
Good defence from Kyle Frowen earned a turn-over at the breakdown and Tim Stevenson launched an attack from inside his own half which saw Drybrook gain ground down the left touchline. Mitch Bourne and Mitch Hale then drove forward before the ball was once again released to the back-line. Stevenson fed a short pass to his captain Ben Large and the skipper powered over between the posts for the Squirrels first try. Stevenson was on target with the conversion and the score was seven – nil to the visitors.
Typical of how this game was going to pan-out Bracknell came straight back with a converted try of their own. They retained the ball from the kick-off and used their bulky forwards to drive down-field. The Bracknell openside broke from the ensuing ruck and forced his way over the line. The home ten converted to tie the scores with twelve minutes played.
Despite the heavy rain both teams endeavoured to play the ball through the hands and it was end to end stuff as both teams fought to get the upper hand.
Twenty-five minutes had been played when a strong break by Mitch Baldwin, coming in off his wing, led to Drybrook winning a penalty at the resulting breakdown. Stevenson was on song with the boot to take his team back in front.
Toby Powell was orchestrating the line-out, with the help of Mikey Addis throwing good arrows, they won the ball to set up a good drive to take play back into the Bracknell half. The ball was moved through the backs and Danny Price found

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Ollie Moore on his shoulder. The pacey full-back outstripped the cover to go over in the corner to extend the Drybrook lead to fifteen points to seven with half an hour played.
It was now Drybrook’s turn to defend as the home team rumbled forward from a series of catch and drive lineouts.
On the stroke of half-time ex Drybrook prop forward Nick Ovens crossed the whitewash, but despite his desperate pleas for the try, it was obvious to all and sundry that Mitch Bourne had held him up to ensure his team held their eight -point advantage, when the whistle sounded to halt the first half proceedings.
The rain had eased enough to entice the Drybrook Chairman out of the Bracknell clubhouse for the start of the second half.
Bracknell kicked off, and with both teams very aware that even this early in the season, a win in this game could prove very important, they applied the early pressure.
Drybrook defended well and when Regan Marsh took a quick tap penalty to set his team on the attack it looked as though the game was turning once again in favour of the visitors. An astute chip over the defence from Stevenson found Olly Moore racing onto the ball, unfortunately the tricky conditions made the ball squirt away from his attempted pick up and the home team were awarded the scrum.
The Bracknell pack generated the next phase of the game using a number of pick and drives they won a penalty when Drybrook were adjudged to have entered the breakdown from an off-side position.
They kicked the ball into touch five yards from the Drybrook line and then drove over with their loose-head prop claiming the try. The try was converted and the score was shortened to just a single point advantage to Drybrook at fifteen – fourteen with twenty minutes to play.

Mitch Renton made a welcome return to the Drybrook team after missing the start of the season and along with fellow replacement Sam Peaper they once again took the game to the opposition.
Their efforts though were met by a well organised Bracknell defence who kept the visitors at bay.
Bracknell were now back on the attack and Drybrook were forced to give away a number of penalties in their attempts to their line intact, finally resulting in two yellow cards and a kickable penalty which the Bracknell out-side half kicked to give his team the lead with only ten minutes and injury time left to play.
With only thirteen players on the pitch it looked ominous for the visitors but the resolve they showed was admirable and they managed to hold out until they were back up to full compliment.
With time running out Drybrook launched a final offensive and this time it was Bracknell who were forced to concede the penalty.
Stevenson handled the pressure and smoothly stroked the ball between the uprights to put Drybrook ahead by a solitary point with two minutes of injury time still to be played.
Bracknell had one final foray into the Drybrook half but in their desperation to retain the ball they conceded a final penalty which gave Drybrook the opportunity to see out the remainder of the game and take the victory.
This was a hard-fought win and although not at their best Drybrook showed plenty of spirit to come away with the points, to set themselves up for the next game at home to Brixham.

Drive on Dry and up the Squirrels!

Drybrook – MOORE, ROBERTS, PRICE, LARGE, BALDWIN, STEVENSON, MARSH, BOURNE, FROWEN, WATTS, NOTT, POWELL, HALE, ADDIS, DAYNES, JELF, PEAPER, RENTON