Drybrook 6ptsMatson 3pts
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Drybrook narrowed the gap at the top of the division with this excellent victory over league leaders Matson.
The driving wind and rain dictated how the game had to be played and it was Drybrook who led the way with a magnificent effort from their forwards. This platform enabled them to enjoy the monopoly of possession and field position and although no tries were scored Drybrook went close on several occasions.
Matson made the early running but with 10 minutes played the heavens opened and handling became difficult.
Drybrook’s Jun Sing Lee was yellow carded after 15 minutes and from the resulting penalty Ryan Woodhouse put Matson into the lead.
Ollie Clements attempted to bring Drybrook level a few minutes later but his effort was blown well off course by the howling wind.
Drybrook kept up the pressure on Matson with a series of pick and drives but every time they got near the Matson line the visitors managed to clear.
Scrum half Carl Moore nearly touched down following a good run but knocked on just short of the line but with the first half coming to a close Drybrook finally got their reward.
Following several good forward drives and a period of ball retention centre Ben Large put over a good drop goal to level the scores.
With the last play of the half Drybrook were awarded a penalty and this time Clements made no mistake with a difficult kick into the wind.
Half Time:
Drybrook 6pts
Matson 3pts
A torrential rain burst during the interval saw referee Ian Bibey scurry for the shelter of the dug out and it looked at one stage that the game might be called off.
However the rain eased and the second half got underway and Drybrook were denied a score when they were held up in the in goal area.
A five metre scrum followed and Drybrook looked to be heading for a pushover score but Matson were just able to prevent it.
The visitors had the wind in their favour in the second half and used it to good effect to peg Drybrook back near their own line on a number of occasions.
Every time Matson got within striking distance the Drybrook forwards drove themselves out of trouble with prop Craig Clarke and No 8 Mitch Renton particularly prominent.
Drybrook were held up again later in the second half as they looked to close out the game but Matson made one last effort at the end.
A kick to the corner set up the position for an assault on the home line and after a couple of attacks Drybrook hooker Ashley Howells was yellow carded.
Drybrook withstood everything Matson threw at them after this and were deserved victors at the final whistle.
Drybrook were well served by every player in the challenging conditions with prop forward Craig Clarke getting the nod for the “CMCA UK” man of the match award.
Drybrook 1st XV; Tom Treherne, Kristian Taft, Ben Large, Simon Rugman (Capt), Dan Cox, Ollie Clements, Carl Moore, Jun Sing Lee, Ashley Howells, Craig Clarke, Liam Jackson, Neil Morgan, Dan Price, Luke Fisher, Mitch Renton.
Replacements: Mitch Baldwin, Marcus Cowles, Nick Ovens.
