North Bristol 12ptsDrybrook 13pts
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Drybrook showed great character to snatch victory with an injury time penalty from the coolest man on the field, stand off Ollie Clements.
It was no more than Drybrook deserved after leading for the majority of the match despite a faltering line out and being out gunned at the scrum.
Elsewhere Drybrook competed well in the blustery conditions and when called upon the defence was rock solid except for a lapse in the last five minutes.
Drybrook made most of the running in the first half but a big penalty count against them began to take its toil. Eventually they got back on track and flanker Sam Peaper looked to have touched down but the referee deemed the ball was held up. Despite this set back Drybrook kept up the pressure and when they won a penalty from a deliberate knock on they kicked to the corner.
A well rehearsed move led to second row Joe James splitting the home defence with a powerful surge before crashing over for a try which Clements converted.
Drybrook continued to press after this and on the stroke of half time Clements put over a penalty kick to increase his team’s lead.
Half Time:
North Bristol nil
Drybrook 10pts
Drybrook had to dig deep early in the second half to keep the home side out and with 10 minutes gone a tremendous cover tackle from centre Dan Cox saved the day.
There were lots of errors from both teams, particularly at the line out, but Drybrook began to have more of the play once the home team’s powerful No 8 went off injured.
With the game entering the last 15 minutes Drybrook were dealt a blow when replacement flanker Rorie Day was yellow carded for killing the ball and skipper Simon Rugman was forced off with a head injury.
North Bristol upped their effort and although Drybrook kept them out for a long period the referee eventually awarded a penalty try.
The home team sensed an opportunity and when two Drybrook defenders made a mess of an up and under the pressure was back on the visitors.
A series of scrums led to North Bristol snatching the lead with a try and with barely any time left on the clock it looked bleak for Drybrook.
However they showed great spirit by ploughing forward from the restart and in injury time were awarded the all important penalty.
Up stepped Clements who proved himself the man for the occasion with a confident strike into a powerful wind.
Drybrook team; Tom Treherne, Mitch Baldwin, Simon Rugman (Capt), Dan Cox, Kritian Taft, Ollie Clements, Carl Moore, Jun Sing Lee, Mitch Renton, Nick Ovens, Dale Critchley, Joe James, Dan Price, Sam Peaper, Lee ward.
Replacements; Rorie Day, Chris Rawlings, Connor Auker-Howlett
