Drybrook Rugby Club

Brixham R.F.C 21pts
Drybrook R.F.C 16pts

On a bright, windy afternoon in Devon, Drybrook put up a good fight, but were unable to land the catch against the well organised Fishermen of Brixham.
The lack of a solid set-piece was to prove vital in this close contest, time and again the Drybrook eight were shunted backwards and but for the dexterity of number eight Mitch Bourne, who was superb at the back of a retreating scrum, Drybrook may well have suffered more than they did.
Things went awry at the out-set as the Fishermen kicked off down the considerable slope and immediately put the visitors under pressure. A catch and Drive saw them advance up-field and from the resulting ruck their prop barged over the line for the first score. The conversion was a formality and Brixham led seven points to nil after just three minutes. Drybrook though to their credit hit back and were unlucky not to gain a score of their own, conceding a vital penalty as the player got isolated at the ruck. Despite their advantage in the scrum Brixham struggled against the visitor’s defence and it was not until the thirty-eight-minute mark that they were able to add to their score. This time they created space in the bottom right hand corner for their winger to cross the line. The conversion was missed and the home crowd were left to ponder if a twelve

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point advantage would be enough as the whistle blew to end the half.
The second half began and this time it was Drybrooks turn to kick-off down the slope. As Brixham had done in the first half, Drybrook set up camp on the oppositions line. After initial surges from Hale and Smith, Joe Tingle eventually dotted down for a Drybrook try and Tim Stevenson added the extras.
From the restart Tom Treherne combined with Mitch Baldwin to put Drybrook into a good position mid-field. The ball was recycled to the backs and Captain Ben Large made good ground to earn the visitors a penalty. Live-wire scrum-half Olly Moore went quickly but was impeded within ten yards of the kick. Tim Stevenson stepped up and slotted the penalty and Drybrook were back to within two points with only six minutes of the half been played.
Brixham were stung into action and controlled the ball in a series of strong forward drives. On fifty-two minutes they earned a penalty at the scrum which the home outside-half converted to take his team back into a five-point lead.
Six minutes later and an almost carbon copy period of play allowed the Brixham team to extend the lead to eighteen points to ten with another penalty.
The next ten minutes belonged to Drybrook as they fought their way back into the game.

Frowen and Large were instrumental in taking play to Brixham and it was not long before the pressure told and Drybrook were back to within one score following two well struck penalties from Stevenson.
Too many times this season though Drybrook have failed to keep their composure and accuracy. Brixham were allowed to get back into the game following some silly errors, and penalties were to easily given away in needless positions, one of which the home-side converted to lead twenty-one- points to sixteen with eight minutes left.
Drybrook again went on the attack but as the clock ticked down, they were unable to secure the possession needed for the vital score.
Brixham were happy to boot the ball into the stands at the close of play and Drybrook were left to reflect on another day when despite their efforts the result had eluded them.
On a positive note it was good to see Bradley Morgan back after injury and Tom Smith had a fine game coming in at hooker.
Next week Drybrook take on Camborne at the Manning’s. Let’s hope they can secure a home victory in another big game for the Squirrels.

Drive on Dry!

Drybrook – Treherne – Baldwin – Price – Large – Roberts – Stevenson – Moore – Bourne – Frowen – Watts – Tingle – Nott – Hale – Smith – Jelf – Daynes – Peaper – Morgan.