Drybrook Rugby
Gloucestershire Premier League
Drybrook 10pts Hartpury College 38pts
Drybrook had the daunting
task of taking on run away leaders Hartpury but they acquitted themselves
admirably and were unlucky to lose by such a margin.
Drybrook started off really well but Hartpury weathered the storm and then
signalled their intentions with a try from their first real attack of the game.
Drybrook with the wind at their backs came back strongly and were unlucky not to
score when Aaron Ryder’s penalty attempt hit the post but the young outside half
made amends soon after with a successful kick.
Hartpury were attempting to run the ball at every opportunity and Drybrook’s
defence was stretched at times but finally it was breached when a chip ahead and
kind bounce let to a converted try under the posts.
With 32 minutes gone Drybrook ran out of defenders as excellent support play
from the visitors led to another converted try.
Drybrook’s skipper John Duffin was then yellow carded but despite this handicap
they held out until just before the interval when Hartpury scored a fourth try
by outflanking the home team in the corner.
At 26pts -3pts Drybrook were staring a big defeat in the face but they were
having none of it and put in a great second half showing to make a real game of
it.
For nearly 10 minutes Drybrook pounded the Hartpury line and eventually scrum
half Carl Moore emerged from under a pile of bodies to claim a try that Ryder
successfully converted.
Hartpury continued to move the ball as often as possible but they were knocked
out of their stride but some great defensive work where in particular Drybrook’s
back row of Jackson, Price and Morgan were prominent.
With 10 minutes remaining Hartpury eventually broke through with another try but
Drybrook refused to give in a played their part in a hectic last spell as both
teams tried to play open rugby.
Hartpury had the last word when they broke from deep within their own half to
score a top class try with some excellent switching of play and good support
work that finally undid the Drybrook defence.
The successful conversion proved to be the last play of the game.
Drybrook team; C. Rawlings, D. Hartwell, D. Griffiths, S. Rugman, J. Roberts, A.
Ryder, C. Moore, L. Phelps, C.Thomas, S. Phelps, J. Hillcoat, J. Duffin, L.
Jackson, D. Price, N. Morgan. Substitutes; M. Browning, Dan Auker-Howlett, L.
Meek.
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