High Wycombe 10ptsDrybrook 43pts
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Drybrook completed their pre-season warm up programme with their best display so far to see off High Wycombe at their Kingsmead complex.
Wycombe did not enjoy a good season last year which resulted in relegation to level 7 but they soon had Drybrook in trouble as they dominated the opening phases.
Sustained pressure eventually told when the hosts crossed for the opening try after 10 minutes when they sucked in the defence to exploit a gap down the blindside.
Drybrook then lost fullback Aiden Price with a leg injury and they struggled to get any fluency into their game and more than 20 minutes had gone before they were able to launch the first real attack. Wave after wave of assaults on the home line inevitably brought a try and it was second row Dale Critchley who emerged with the ball after a close range drive. Stand off Ollie Clements added the conversion to give Drybrook the lead.
A minute later a Ben Large touch finder gave Drybrook a good position in the home 22 and when they regained possession the ball was moved swiftly wide for winger Kristian Taft to race over in the corner.
Wycombe hit back strongly and had Drybrook defending desperately but a great defensive hit from Marcus Cowles led to turnover ball and hooker Luke Fisher broke out to set up a counter attack. Fisher’s fine run was brought to a halt near half way but skipper Simon Rugman was up in support to evade the covering defenders and eventually touch down under the posts.
Clements converted and the High Wycombe heads began to drop as they sensed it was not going to be their day.
Just before the interval Clements put through a well balanced grubber kick and flanker Sam Peaper was able to win the race to the touch down to give Drybrook a clear advantage.
Half Time:
High Wycombe 5pts
Drybrook 24pts
Drybrook started the second half well and made some piercing holes in the home defence but all too often the final pass let them down.
Nevertheless they gradually improved and a multi-phased attack stretched the home defence one way then the other to allow winger Dan Cox to score in the corner.
A bad Wycombe line out then led to Drybrook’s next try when Peaper took a smart catch at the tail before cruising over and Clements added the conversion.
The hosts hit back with their best spell of the half and deservedly grabbed a second try following several off loads.
Drybrook then regained control and dominated the closing stages which eventually led to Cox grabbing his second score on the overlap with Clements again adding the extras.
Drybrook’s evergreen Chris Rawlings came off the bench in the second half to make his 600th appearance for the club’s 1st XV.
Drybrook 1st XV; Aiden Price, Dan Cox, Simon Rugman (Capt), Ben Large, Kristian Taft, Ollie Clements, Tom Treherne, Mitch Renton, Luke Fisher, Craig Clarke, Marcus Cowles, Dale Critchley, Sam Peaper, Joe Tingle, Mitch Browning.
Substitutes; Adam Swordy, Chris Rawlings.
Footnote: This was Drybrook’s first ever match at High Wycombe where they enjoyed the friendliest of welcomes and a pre-match buffet to die for. The weather conditions were perfect and club photographer Gary Taylor even managed to capture an elusive Red Kite circling overhead.
