Drybrook Rugby Club

Exeter University 51pts
Drybrook R.F.C 20pts

Drybrook arrived at the Topsham sports ground with a degree of confidence following the previous weeks defeat of Weston. They were well in the game, leading twenty points to fifteen with forty-five minutes played.
Unfortunately a yellow card and some great play from the students meant that the final thirty minutes belonged to Exeter and there was, in all reality, little Drybrook could do to prevent them scoring a further five try’s to give the final score-line a rather lop-sided view of things.
Exeter kicked off on a bright and extremely breezy afternoon and Drybrook were immediately on the attack. The forwards drove the ball up the middle of the park and when it was released the Exeter backs had encroached on the off-side line and Tom Treherne converted the following penalty.
As has been the case in too many of Drybrooks games lately they let the students straight back in from the kick-off and they scored through their winger on the right.
Drybrooks line-out was working nicely and they were causing the Exeter side problems with their driving maul, but the students had pace to burn and were always dangerous on the counter.
It was following a speculative Drybrook kick that they showed their ability to move the ball, with their outside half particularly impressive, and they scored again to take a ten – three lead.

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Undaunted Drybrook attacked again and after good work from Joe Tingle and Sam Peaper the ball came back to Corado Colombo who raced in for a converted try to bring the scores level at ten apiece.
Drybrook also have an outside half full of promise in young George Paul and he showed his class on the thirty-minute mark. A good driving maul from Drybrook was held up over the line and the students were forced into the dreaded goal-line drop-out. Paul caught the ball and coolly slotted a Wilkinson style drop-goal to edge the visitors in front by three points.
Another well worked backs move saw the students regain the lead when their impressive full-back broke the line to score out wide.
Drybrook looked to be creative themselves and Ben Large took play into the Exeter half and forced the students to concede a penalty.
Treherne’s attempt drifted just wide in the difficult conditions and Exeter held on to the lead at the break fifteen points to thirteen.
As soon as the second half had started though they relinquished that advantage as the Italian wizard Colombo grabbed his second try of the afternoon following some strong running from Mitch Bourne and Kyle Frowen. Treherne nailed on the extras and Drybrook took a five-point lead twenty points to fifteen.
The pace of the game had been extremely high as

is the case when you play a team who have the luxury of being able to train all week without having to work and this eventually took its toll on the Drybrook lads.
The Students raised the bar and in all fairness to them they did not allow Drybrook back into the game. Drybrook were forced to defend desperately and Danny Price paid the penalty for the visitor’s persistent infringements, picking up a yellow card.
The Drybrook players will be disappointed with the final twenty minutes, where they made too many errors, and allowed the students to run away with the game.
They scored a further five try’s and eventually ran-out worthy winners.
The lack of any club-house or kitchen meant that Corado Colombos relatives had to knock-up a few pizzas in a near-by caravan for the boys to enjoy on the long journey home.

This week Drybrook Firsts have a break but there will be plenty of local interest as the United travel to take on Bream Firsts in the Junior Combination Cup.

Drive on Dry!

Drybrook – T Treherne, R Chapell-Thomas, D Price, B Large(Capt), O Moore, G Paul, C Colombo, M Bourne, S Peaper, K Frowen, J Tingle, G Nott, H Daynes, C Williams, M Addis, L Roberts, J Taylor, D Jelf.