Colts Page

1st April - Drybrook in first victory of season.
Cheltenham Colts 12pts Drybrook Colts 15pts

Drybrook earned their first victory of the season with tries from Dan Large and Lewis Knight with Knight who had a great game adding a conversion and a penalty. Drybrooks captain suffered a broken collar bone. all the lads wish him all the best he will be missed greatly.

12th November - Drybrook count cost of disallowed tries.
Thornbury Colts 14pts Drybrook Colts 7pts

This game was eagerly waited as Thornbury is a young colts like Drybrooks and the teams were at least matched for size. Drybrook started strongly and dominated in the set pieces. Drybrooks scrum and lineout showed much improvement, pressurising thornbury at every possibility. Thornbury were quicker to the breakdown in the first half and capitalised on some weak defending which let in two tries. At 14-0 at half time and having to play up the slope, Drybrook knew they had to work harder. From the off Drybrook kept the pressure up, taking the ball up front with pick up and drives that kept the visitors on the back foot. Thornbury were pushed to clear their defence several times with kicks downfield, and from one such kick saw Drybrooks full back Lewis Mitchell catch and run from the half way, breaking through tackles to finally running a well earned try in, which Ryan Dubberley converted. Drybrook piled on more pressure and were unlucky not to be awarded two tries as they were judged not grounded. From the pressure exerted by Drybrook Thornbury was penalised several times, leading to a yellow card. Drybrook used this to their advantage and kept attacking, from which another try was disallowed. At the final whistle Drybrook were again unlucky not to come away with a win. Worthy of a mention is Alex Cook who filled in at scrum half, and showed very little evidence that he has not played there before

5th November - Drybrook suffer another close defeat
Durrsley Colts 14pts Drybrook Colts 0pts

Drybrook travelled to Dursley for their fourth game of the season and again came up against larger opposition. Dursleys larger and better organised pack dominated in the tight, stopping Drybrook from gaining any decent ball. Dursley used the down hill to their advantage in the first half putting Drybrook under constant pressure, gaining themselves a try and penalty, with only Drybrooks tenacious defence keeping the score low.

The second half saw Drybrook start to win a little more of the ball in the set pieces which Their scrum half Carl Moore made use of sniping away at Dursleys defence. Dursleys pack still used its size and organisation to great use driving forward at every opportunity, only Drybrooks stout defence kept the score low. Drybrooks Kieran Wilkins was worthy of mention for his heroic tackling, and twat of the match Ryan”Doggers”James is to be mention for his impression of chasing a chicken as he chased after a loose ball. Again this game shows that Drybrooks young colts are competing well against larger older sides, and their commitment in the games bodes well for next season.

15th October - Colts Merit League - Drybrook defeated by Current County Colt Champions
Drybrook Colts 7pts Stroud Colts 33

Drybrook suffered this heavy defeat to the current County Colts champions despite competing strongly for most of the match. Stroud achieved a healthy 26 - nil lead during the first half with strong decisive running helped by missed Drybrook tackles at key times. During the first half Stroud showed impressive handling throughout their back-line with the full-back looking particularly strong with his running lines.

Drybrook turned around and produced a much better display in the second half and responded with a try of their own through Liam Jackson, successfully converted by Aaron Ryder. Stroud however had the last word scoring the final try right on the final whistle, where poor tackling helped them touchdown under the posts from half way.

8th October - Colts first National Cup fixture ends in Heartbreak.
National Colts Cup - Drybrook Colts 0pts Cheltenham Colts 3pts

Drybrook battled bravely in this tight match but were narrowly defeated by a far bigger Cheltenham side. Playing against the wind and slope in the first half Drybrook managed to hold this dangerous looking Cheltenham side. Cheltenham spurned some early penalty chances in favour of kicks to the corner in an attempt to score tries, but Drybrook were more than a match in defence with some ferocious tackling to repelling the visitors. The clearest chances for scores in the first half were when twice Drybrook players were held up over the line.

The second half saw Drybrook produce an even stronger performance continually knocking their opponents out of their stride and using the wind to pin them into the corner. Drybrook continued to knock at the door being camped in the visitors half for long periods. Agonisingly Drybrook had one penalty attempt drift narrowingly wide and another hit the post during this period of pressure. Mid-way through the second half Cheltenham managed to force their way into the Drybrook half to earn a penalty which their No.10 ably converted. Both sides then had player sin binned and in the closing stages Drybrook again were camped in the visitors 22, but just could not get the important try for victory. Cheltenham nervously held out to secure their passage into the next round.

Drybrook players watch on as the penalty attempt agonisingly hits the post.