Drybrook Rugby Club

Drybrook 6pts
Cinderford United 9pts
(After Extra Time)

Cinderford United retained the Combination senior cup following a penalty from county scrum half Danny Pointon in the second half of extra time and it was hard luck on Drybrook who had the chances to have won but did not take them.
A fierce cross wind and wet and cold conditions made it difficult for both teams but Drybrook started strongly and should have made more of two driving mauls near the Cinderford line.
Tom Treherne missed a penalty on 15 minutes after Cinderford had pulled down a driving maul and a few minutes later Cinderford’s Tom Laws was also off target.
Drybrook continually drove forward in the first half but Cinderford’s defence was outstanding even when they lost a player to the sin bin.
Drybrook eventually went ahead after 31 minutes when Treherne slotted a penalty but just before the break Laws brought his side level with his first successful kick.

Half Time:
Cinderford United 3pts
Drybrook 3pts

Drybrook started the second half well and with 9 minutes gone they had the Cinderford scrum in

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trouble and looked to be heading for a pushover score but the referee deemed the ball was out and Cinderford scrambled the ball clear.
Cinderford then brought on county prop Chris Bundy to shore up their pack and they began to see more of the ball.
With 15 minutes gone Drybrook were caught off side and Laws put Cinderford ahead with a good kick but a minute later Treherne brought the scores level with his second successful kick.
Drybrook then forced a couple of line outs near the Cinderford line but were held out by some magnificent defence and a couple of Treherne penalty attempts also failed to find their mark.
As the second half wore on Cinderford began to get on top and yet another county player in their ranks No 8 Ben Sparkes began to cause Drybrook a few problems.
Drybrook grimly held on as the physicality of the match took its toll on both sets of players but with time running out Laws had the chance to snatch victory but pushed his penalty wide.
With the very last play of normal time Cinderford were awarded a penalty virtually in front of the Drybrook posts but somehow Laws put it wide forcing the game into extra time.

Normal time:
Cinderford United 6pts
Drybrook 6pts

In the first half of extra time the tide began to turn in Drybrook’s favour but a Treherne penalty attempt was again off target and the scores remained deadlocked at the break.
From the restart Sparkes just managed to keep control of the ball and made a powerful surge before being brought down. A penalty resulted and Pointon stepped up to hit a low kick over the posts.
Drybrook then threw everything into attack and created an overlap with the best move of the game but the pass went astray and Cinderford were able to clear.
Cinderford lost winger Louis Overthrow with a broken collar bone in a frantic finale to the match but they held on to retain the cup.
The man of the match was Cinderford’s No 8 Ben Sparkes.

Drybrook XV; Tom Treherne, Sam Peaper, Simon Rugman (Capt), Luke Fisher, Andy Bulumakau, Ben large, Carl Moore, Tom Reed, Mitch Renton, Jun Sing lee, Rich Cottrell, Liam Jackson, Dan Price, Lee Ward, Andy Chesters.
Substitutes; Craig Clarke, Nick Ovens, Chris Rawlings, Neil Morgan.