Drybrook Rugby Club

Drybrook R.F.C 29
Camborne R.F.C 16

With the wind swirling around the Manning’s and Drybrook facing a Camborne team strengthened by recent signings, this was going to be a tough game for the Forest boys. It was going to come down to pride, passion and desire and the Drybrook team had to call on all of these qualities to overturn a half-time deficit and earn a valuable five-point victory over their Cornish visitors.
Forwards coach Chris Fortey had asked his pack to lay a foundation for the team to work off and the very first scrum, with Camborne shunted backwards, showed the intention of standing up to the challenge.
It was from the scrum that Drybrook launched their first attack. A good pick up and drive by Mitch Bourne saw the ball quickly recycled by Olly Moore who found Joe Tingle on the charge to open the scoring after seven minutes. Tim Stevenson converted in the tricky conditions to give his team a seven-point lead.
Drybrook, continued to attack but a loose pass was intercepted by a Camborne defender, and although his pass to his outside centre looked to have gone forward, the number thirteen galloped away to score between the home teams posts. The Camborne ten slotted the conversion and the scores were level at seven apiece.
The home side were now guilty of a loss in concentration and were penalised time after time for minor indiscretions in the contact area.
The Camborne ten provided a master-class in

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how to handle the wind and punished Drybrook three times with well struck penalties to give his team a sixteen-points to seven half-time lead, which left the home support a little deflated after such a promising start.
With the wind at their backs Drybrook started the second half by taking the ball at the opposition with gusto. Kyle Frowen continued his great form this season and was making life miserable for the Camborne forwards with his work rate at the breakdown.
The Drybrook defence was also a formidable obstacle with Bailey Watts, Danny Price and Tim Stevenson all putting in big shots on the opposition.
The pressure began to tell and the home side were rewarded with a Stevenson penalty on forty-seven minutes after Camborne had failed to release at the breakdown.
Tingle and Nott were both having storming afternoons in the Drybrook engine room, and when Nott broke from his own half to take play into the visitors twenty-two Camborne were forced to handle the ball illegally and lost a player to the bin.
Drybrook capitalised on their advantage when following a scrum captain Ben Large made a typical break through the middle to set up play on the Camborne line. Sniffer Peaper, who was on the wing this week, used his strength to touch down and Stevenson’s kick put Drybrook back in front at seventeen points to sixteen.

The Drybrook machine was now at full throttle and they increased their lead following good work from Moore and Bradley Morgan, who is looking better with every minute played following his injury.
Sam Peaper was again the recipient of the final pass and forced his way over to take the lead to seven-points.
All Drybrook needed to do now was earn the try bonus point their performance deserved and they accomplished this with a good try by number eight Mitch Bourne, capping another excellent game for the Squirrels. Stevenson added the extras to take the score to twenty-nine points to sixteen.
Camborne did their best to get back within a score, but Dry brook’s defence with Treherne and fellow replacements Coburn and Auker-Howlett to the fore stood firm, and when the final whistle sounded, the home team were able to celebrate a valuable five-point victory.
With Exmouth and Launceston still to come to the Manning’s the fate of side still remains in their own hands, and after a performance like this one, everyone involved in this club can be optimistic at the remainder of this season.

Drive on Dry!

Drybrook – Morgan – Peaper – Price – Large – Roberts – Stevenson – Moore – Bourne – Frowen – Watts – Tingle – Nott – Hale – Adiss – Jelf – Treherne – Auker-Howlett – Coburn.