Drybrook Rugby Club

Drybrook R.F.C 30pts
Bournemouth Rugby 24pts

Taffy Howells Memorial Day Match turned out to be the best of the season so far, and I’m sure if Taff was looking down, or most probably up, in his case, I am sure he would have enjoyed every minute of this hard-fought encounter at the Manning’s.
Drybrook kicked off playing away from the club house and the brooding over-head conditions suited the early exchanges as both teams looked to gain the early initiative.
The Bournemouth pack certainly held the advantage of superior weight and they made the most of this in the early stages putting the home team’s scrum under pressure.
They were unfortunate not to score on the five-minute mark when, after pushing Drybrook off their own ball, the Bournemouth inside centre was held up over the line.
Forced into a goal-line drop-out Drybrook were unable to effectively clear the ball, and despite a clear obstruction by the Bournemouth number eight the opposition scored a try in the right-hand corner through their blind-side flanker.
Typical of the way the game was to progress back came the Drybrook team, and although they missed a shot at goal, they were not to be denied. Sam Peaper came in off the wing to score a try after good work by the forwards, Treherne converted and Drybrook took a seven points to five lead after twelve minutes of play.
The next period of play was even stevens with both teams involved in a pulsating cut and thrust game with no quarter asked or given.

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It was Bournemouth who were to break the dead-lock, after a barrage on the Drybrook line they moved the ball right for their winger to squeeze in at the corner.
The Drybrook line-out was working like clockwork and Bertie Stretch would not have looked out of place at the World darts finals as his arrows time and again hit their mark. From this platform Drybrook were able to exert pressure on the visitors. Good driving runs from Mitch Bourne and Bailey Watts forced Bournemouth to concede a penalty that Treherne converted to level the scores at ten apiece with thirty-five minutes played.
In a game, that was swinging back and forth, it was Bournemouth who took the advantage into the break after their impressive full-back broke the line to go over for a converted try. The half-time score being seventeen points to ten in favour of the visitors.
If the first half had been good the second was even better and it began at a terrific pace as Drybrook looked to even the scores.
Bourne and Greenway were working tirelessly carrying the ball forward and the backs were feeding off this momentum with strong running from the centres, Large and Price.
Drybrook got their reward on eight minutes. Following a good catch and drive from the line-out the ball was taken infield, where who, but the arch poacher Peaper, was on hand to pick up and dart through the middle to score a try which Treherne easily converted.

Again Bournemouth came back and restored their seven-point advantage through a converted try after their fullback collected a chip over the top to score on the right.
Drybrook though were not to be outdone and with the impetus of players coming off the bench, and the big Bournemouth side tiring they took the game to the opposition.
Two Treherne penalties set up a nail-biting finale with one point in it and the clock running down.
Fantastic defence on their own line from the home team kept the visitors at bay, but it was difficult to see how the Foresters would be able to break out to score.
Cometh the hour cometh the man. Captain Ben Large picked up a long Tim Stevenson pass and put on the after-burners to blast through the Bournemouth defenders. The crowd could hardly believe it as he crossed the line, Treherne converted to seal a magnificent Drybrook victory thirty points to twenty-four.
It was a great game of rugby and both teams deserve a huge amount of credit for the way they played.
Drybrook were outstanding from one to eighteen, with a special mention to the halfbacks, Lucas Arresti and Dillon Worsely who were solid all game, Mitch Bourne and his side-kick Sam Peaper, both putting in exceptional performances and of course Captain Fantastic, Ben Large who pulled the rabbit out of the hat to seal the game.

Drive on Dry!