Drybrook Rugby Club

Drybrook R.F.C 23pts
Ivybridge R.F.C. 20pts

On a bright chilly afternoon, a good crowd had assembled at the Mannings to see Drybrook take on Ivybridge.
The Devon side had already scored notable victories over Barnstaple and Maidenhead away from home this season, and must have been fairly confident coming into this fixture.
Drybrook were again coming into the game having missed the previous two weeks through games being postponed or free Saturdays.
The kick-off time had been brought forward to 2pm to allow for the diminishing light at this time of year and after a minute’s silence, held for long time Drybrook servant Derek Trigg, Ivybridge kicked off playing towards the clubhouse.
Anyone who was lingering over their pre-match beverages missed a scintillating start to the game by the home team.
Regan Marsh made a lovely break from a line-out to take play to the half-way line. The ball was carried on ten yards by Joe Tingle and Glen Nott and Drybrook were awarded a penalty at the breakdown when the defender failed to roll away from the tackle area. Drybrook lost the resulting line-out on the visitors twenty-two but were granted a reprieve when the clearance kick went straight into touch.
There was no mistake at the following set-piece and Drybrook attacked through their back-line. A deft pass out of the back of his hand by Mitch Baldwin found Olly Moore who took play up to the visitors five-metre line. The forwards then bashed it up before the ball came back to find Baldwin on the crash to score an excellent try to the right of the posts.
Tim Stevenson converted and the hosts were seven points up.
If the first try was good then what followed was sublime. From the restart Mitch Renton drove up to his own twenty-two. The recycled ball was fed

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to Moore who effortlessly glided past the defence to take the ball to halfway. He drew thedefender and passed inside to Baldwin who showed blistering pace to run the ball in from halfway and score between the posts. Stevenson slotted the conversion and Drybrook were up to fourteen points with only twelve minutes played. The home teams barrage continued and after a good catch and drive from the line-out Mitch Hale fed Marsh who again showed his pace taking play up to the visitors twenty-two. Drybrook looked to be in for another try but the Ivybridge defence were up to soon and denied the opportunity in favour of giving away the penalty. Stevenson converted and a healthy seventeen-point cushion was already in place.
Ivybridge at last began to get their hands on the ball and good attacking play saw them rewarded with a penalty on twenty-five minutes to give them their first points.
Unfortunately, Danny Price injured an ankle in the build up and had to be replaced by Jack Curtis.
Drybrook attacked again from the restart with Mikey Addis, Mitch Renton and Kyle Frowen combining well to force another penalty on the Devonians line.
Stevenson again took the points on offer and the home side led twenty points to three.
With only five minutes left in the half Ivybridge rallied to pressure the Drybrook defence. Initially it looked as though Drybrook had weathered the storm, when opting to go quickly from a tap penalty in front of the Drybrook posts, Ivybridge lost the ball forward.
Drybrook then had numerous opportunities to clear their lines, but overplayed in their own twenty-two, and gifted the visitors a try on the stroke of half-time. The nine sneaked in on the blindside to take the score to twenty points to eight at the interval.

The second half again started well for the home team. A superb touch kick from Stevenson took play deep into the Ivybridge half.
Play was taken to the Ivybridge line and it looked as though Drybrook were sure to score as first Frowen then Nott looked to burst through. Mitch Hale then crossed the line but the ref had seen an infringement and brought play back for an earlier penalty advantage to Drybrook. Stevenson converted and Drybrook at this stage looked comfortable.
As is often the case in this league though you can take nothing for granted, and Ivybridge were in no mood to just lie down and die.
They scored the first try of the second half on fifteen minutes when after twice been held up over the line they moved the ball to the left where their winger squeezed in at the corner.
Drybrook still held a ten-point advantage but their first half dominance was now being eroded by a determined Ivybridge, and with the game entering the final stages they ensured a thrilling climax when their ten went over for a converted try, to bring them back to within three-points.
Drybrook to their credit steeled themselves and monopolised the ball for the final few minutes. Regan Marsh eventually kicking the ball dead to end a great contest.
Drybrook deserved the win, but no-one could argue that it came easily, and Ivybridge were well worth their losing bonus point.
Next week the Drybrook team face a long trip to Cornwall to face the Cornish All Blacks Launceston in what will surely be another hard-fought contest.

Drive on Dry and up the Squirrels!

Drybrook – Moore, Roberts, Price, Large, Baldwin, Stevenson, Marsh, Tingle, Frowen, Watts, Renton, Nott, Hale, Addis, Jelf, Bourne, Curtis, Auker-Howlett.