Cirencester 6ptsDrybrook 20pts
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Drybrook pulled off a good victory at Cirencester and they will be pleased with their first half showing, but it was a different story after the interval with Cirencester, down to 14 men, in control for long periods.
The home team had the first chance to score with a penalty after 3 minutes but Drybrook gradually got into the match and after 10 minutes scrum half Tom Treherne crossed for a try down the blind side of a scrum.
Ollie Clements saw his conversion bounce back off the upright and Cirencester quickly reduced the deficit with a successful penalty kick.
Drybrook played some decent rugby in the first half but could not break through and the home side took the lead after 30 minutes when Treherne was penalised for comments to the referee.
Straight from the restart Drybrook pressed and a quickly taken tap penalty from flanker Sam Peaper caught Cirencester off guard. The ball was moved through several phases and hooker Luke Fisher went over near the posts.
A brawl then broke out and the Cirencester No 5 was red carded for punching and Clements rubbed salt into the wounds by adding the simple conversion.
Drybrook had a glorious chance for another try when No 8 Harry Pickett broke clear but he failed to release winger Mitch Baldwin on a clear overlap and was held up on the line.
Fortunately Drybrook were awarded a penalty and Clements increased the lead with a fine strike.
Just before the break Drybrook had to dig deep to keep out a Cirencester attack but they eventually cleared up field.
Half Time:
Cirencester 6pts
Drybrook 15pts
The second half really belonged to Cirencester who made light of their one man disadvantage as they spent an impressive amount of time in the Drybrook half.
Drybrook were their own worst enemy with too many players looking to take the ball into contact instead of off loading and consequently a number of penalties were conceded.
Fortunately for Drybrook the Cirencester goal kicker was not on good form but try as they might the visitors just couldn’t get out of their own half.
With 20 minutes gone Treherne was sent to the sin bin for not letting the tackled player get back onto his feet but Drybrook were finally able to make inroads into the home half.
This was short lived however and Drybrook did well to keep out a Cirencester onslaught but with 5 minutes remaining the visitors snatched a dramatic score.
Replacement fullback Aiden Price made a great break from deep inside his own half and found hooker Luke Fisher in support who in turn put skipper Simon Rugman scampering over in the corner.
Drybrook came to life in the last minutes as they looked for the bonus point score but the game fizzled out and the loss of replacement Mitch Hale to the bin did little to help their cause.
Drybrook 1st XV; Kristian Taft, Mitch Baldwin, Simon Rugman (Capt), Dan Cox, Ollie Clements, Tom Treherne, Jun Sing Lee, Luke Fisher, Nick Ovens, Joe James, Mitch Renton, Dan Price, Sam Peaper, Harry Pickett.
Replacements; Tom Reed, Mitch Hale, Aiden Price.
