Against All Odds!

Brixham R.F.C. 19pts
Drybrook R.F.C 21pts

Drybrook once again showed their resilience to take the victory in a game in which they were trailing by nineteen points to three at the break, and down to fourteen players.
After a long trip down to the coast, Drybrook kicked off on a balmy afternoon with the slope and slight wind in their favour.
Good driving play from Will Greenway and Mitch Bourne took play into the opposition twenty-two where Drybrook were awarded a penalty for the Brixham player not rolling away from the tackle area. Tom Treherne stepped up to convert and give his team an early three-point lead.
Despite this early advantage the Drybrook boys seemed to be lacking the cohesion of the previous week and it was not long before Brixham hit their stride and scored a well worked try in the right corner.
Drybrooks cause was not helped with an early injury to Dean Jelf in the front row and they struggled to get any real momentum with Brixham dominating the lion’s share of possession.
The home team added a further converted try through their tight head prop who was able to barge over from close range to take the score to twelve points to three much to the delight of the large home crowd.
Drybrook seemed to be going through the motions and, although not playing badly, they still looked as though they were stuck in second gear.
It was no real surprise when on the verge of half time Brixham added to their tally when they scored following a goal line drop-out from Drybrook to take the lead nineteen points to three.

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With the wind and slope against them in the second half and trailing by sixteen points you would have got good odds on a Drybrook victory at this point.
This team though have never been a side to go down without a fight, and if they were lacklustre first half, they were magnificent in the second.
From the start they took the initiative and drove through the heart of the Fishermen’s defence. Will Greenway driving over for a good try converted by Treherne.
Brixham were now being forced to concede a host of penalties and Drybrook took advantage setting up numerous catch and drive manoeuvres forcing the hosts back up the hill.
When Treherne added a penalty with twenty minutes played to bring the score back to one converted try, at nineteen – thirteen, the home fans were beginning to look a little worried.
What followed though was a strange scenario where no-one really knew what protocol should be followed. An injury to Harry Dayne’s, Drybrooks other starting prop forward meant that he had to leave the field. Drybrook, who had already had to use their front-row replacement were told that if they went un-contested, they would not be allowed to bring on a player in the props place and would have to play the rest of the game with only fourteen players. The referee seemed unsure and rather than risk forfeiting the game Drybrook had little choice other than to concede to the home team’s request.
Any advantage this should have given Brixham was soon to be put to rest.
Drybrook replaced two other players and brought on Ollie Moore and Joe Tingle both returning after injury and illness.

The added impetus Tingle brought to Drybrooks play was complimented by the pace of Moore and rather than look as though they were playing with a player short the Drybrook team raised the anti-so much so that they were still well in control of the game.
Brixham looked some-what shocked at the turn around in fortunes and were reduced to kicking long down the slope to try and relieve the pressure.
One such kick was fielded by Treherne in his own twenty two who took the ball into contact, quickly recycled the ball found Tim Stevenson who deftly off-loaded to Kyle Frowen who burst through a gap before passing to his captain Ben Large. Ben looked as though he was going to repeat his heroics of the week before, but was caught just before the try-line, as he was tackled he looked up to find Treherne on hand to touch down in the corner to bring the Drybrook score to eighteen, just one behind their opponents.
From the restart the visitors attacked again and Tingle went close before the ball came back for Mitch Bourne to try his luck. Under intense pressure the home defence buckled and the inevitable penalty was conceded.
Up stepped Treherne to put the Foresters two points in front. The remainder of the game was well controlled by the Drybrook forwards and when the final whistle was blown it was to the sound of a cheering band of travelling supporters who could scarcely believe the turn around from the first -half.
Drybrook remain unbeaten this year, and have now moved to fourth from bottom.
Next week sees the Green Army at home to Camborne in what will hopefully be another exciting afternoon.

Drive on Dry!