Whitehall 20pts  Drybrook 11pts

Drybrook started well in this game playing up Whitehall’s slope but with the wind in their favour.  Player coach Leon Meek and No 8 Dale Critchley led from the front and put Drybrook in some good positions but the home side held out for 20 minutes.  Meek then spilled the ball over the Whitehall line after bursting through several tackles but Drybrook deservedly took the lead a minute later with a try from winger Danny Price.  Critchley broke from the back of a scrum and drew the cover before sending Price over in the corner.  In the 38th minute Aaron Ryder increased Drybrook’s lead with a penalty but the home side hit straight back with a try. A kick to the corner followed by a series of rucks and mauls eventually led to Whitehall bundling over for the score.

Whitehall were able to raise their game in the second half and within 5 minutes they took the lead with another close range try.  The next 20 minutes were error strewn with Drybrook’s discipline letting them down and after arguing with the referee once too often Whitehall were awarded a penalty which they duly converted to increase their lead.  With 15 minutes to go Ryder added his second penalty after flanker Craig Moore had gone close to scoring a try and at 11pts – 13pts the game was there for the taking.  Neither side were able to really stamp their authority in the last quarter but Whitehall sealed victory right at the death when an awkward bounce from a speculative kick ahead resulted in a converted try being scored under the Drybrook posts.

Drybrook team: C. Rawlings, D. Price, L. Meek, J. Roberts, G. Kiernan, A. Ryder, T. Treherne, T. Reed(Capt), C. Thomas, S. Phelps, S. Ballinger, L. Jackson, Craig Moore, M. Perkins, D. Critchley.
Replacements ; C. White, L. Phelps, D. Large.