Welcome to the 2005/6 Match Report/News Page of the Junior Sections
Drybrook RFC Mini/Junior Section
Presentation Day 2006
There was a big turnout for the Drybrook RFC Mini/Junior Section’s annual Award Presentation Day. Held on Sunday 4th June in a big marquee at the Mannings ground, the day was graced by a hot sunny start; a sudden downpour in the afternoon did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd as even the pig roast was under canvas.
Popular Gloucester, England and Lions prop Phil Vickery was guest of honour: he presented the awards, gave a well-received speech about the value of grass-roots rugby and stayed on for several hours, signing miscellaneous rugby paraphernalia for his admirers, young and old.
Amongst the guests were representatives from sponsors Ross Aviation, Richards Crane & Transport, Fisher Builders, Harriers Financial Services and the local parish council.
Drybrook Mini/Junior Section Chairperson Dave Auker-Howlett opened proceedings by thanking the sponsors, volunteers, players and parents for their support over the past season, and describing the achievements and cups won by the various teams.
Sally Morse won the Dave Roberts Memorial Trophy for Volunteer of the Year for her hard work and fund-raising; it was presented by Dave Roberts’ son Jason.
Tracy and Ian Dubberley were presented with a wine glass on stand and pewter tankard respectively to mark their retirement after eleven years cooking, coaching and helping the Junior Section. Departing coaches Andy Jones and Chris Thomas were given glass tankards in recognition for their work training Drybrook junior rugby teams.
The Players Player of the Year was Tom Morse; Coaches Player of the Season was Liam Jackson and an award for outstanding achievement at U7s/U8s was made to Ollie Moore for scoring over 50 tries in one season.
The following players from each team received Best Player and Most Improved Player statuettes:
Kerry Powell and Macaulay Moore (U7s); Joe Watts and Sam Jenkins (U8s); Connor Gardiner and George Cinderey (U9s); Dan Pearson and Joel Osborne (U10s); Craig Boughton and Lewis Hek (U11s); Kyle Frowen and Hayden Parker (U12s); Rob King and Richard Mace (U14s); Liam Jackson and Steve Virgo (U16s); Gareth Ruck and Ashley Burris (U17s); Chloe Moore and Lauren Graham (U14 Girls); Ceri Large and Louise Morton (U17 Girls). Every player then received a small trophy, a Raging Bull boot bag and a pair of rugby socks in recognition of their support of the club.
After the Girls teams were given their trophies, their smart new match shirts were handed over by Tony Cole on behalf of sponsors Harriers Financial Services.
The Drybrook RFC Mini/Junior Section 2006/7 season starts with a bang on Sunday 3rd September 2006 in collaboration with major funding partners Access Sport. A current England international player will be on hand to give advice to the youngsters and all age ranges from U7s to Colts will be supported, with girls just as welcome as boys. Activities will be organised for players old and new. Drybrook RFC Mini/Junior Section is one of the few clubs nationally to have been awarded the RFU Seal of Approval. For more information about joining, coaching or sponsoring please phone Dave Auker-Howlett on 01594 543103.
Drybrook Under 12's retain Berry Hill Tournament title
Drybrook retained the Under 12s title they they had won the previous year at Under 11 level. Reports to follow.
Berry Hill 0 pts v Drybrook 0 pts
Drybrook 14pts v Widden OB 0pts
Final
Drybrook 7pts v Cheltenham 0pts
Drybrook RFC U9s Match Report, Sunday 30th
April 2006: vs Widden Old Boys
Drybrook U9s 30 Widden Old Boys
U9s 5
A large Widden contingent visited the Mannings ground so it was decided to play two separate games, enabling everyone to see some action. Drybrook started the first match in fine fettle, forcing their visitors ever backwards with good phases of possession and determined rucking until Tom Woodman eventually surged over from five metres out for a good opening score. Drybrook tackled hard and turned the ball over again: Luke Roberts, Tom Woodman and Alex George made strong breaks, with the latter tackled near the line. Widden’s next possession lasted as far as the halfway line where they were penalised for a rucking infringement: from the resultant scrum, fly half George Cinderey and inside centre Alex Iles combined in a scissors movement that opened up the Widden defence and saw Iles score a well judged try. More powerful Drybrook forward play saw them combine well with their backs, Alex Iles slipping a quick pass from a ruck for winger Aiden Pope to dart over for a superb debut try. Will Biggs and Tom Woodman continued forcing Widden errors and scrum half Connor Gardiner ended the first half by curling round the defence to give Drybrook a 20 point lead.
The Foresters came out hard after the
break, Kieran Auker-Howlett bursting through to score in the right corner. A
minute later Drybrook regained the ball and Alex Iles cut through the Widden
defence from the half way line to notch up his second try. Drybrook’s Josh
Peck was unlucky to put a toe into touch while out-sprinting the visiting backs
but from then on Widden seemed to move up a gear, spending more time in enemy
territory. Using their big forwards to suck in the Drybrook defence,
Widden eventually spun it along the backs for Ty Townsley to power over in the
right corner for a consolation try. Neither side could then break through as the
Widden defence at last got to grips with the speed of Drybrook’s halfbacks and
the match ended with no further score.
Drybrook U9s 25 Widden Old Boys
U9s 15
It must have been some team talk during the break: Widden started the second match at full pace with some strong rucking and good recycling until Luke Stephens barged over to put the visitors ahead. Drybrook responded in kind with good play from Will Biggs, Shaun Carter and Josh Peck resulting in Connor Gardiner bursting through some weak tackles to tie the scores. The visitors put more pressure on the Drybrook defence, driving close to their line, until a counterattack by Alex Iles took play to within five metres of Widden’s own tryline: hard working Alex George powered over from the ruck for a deserved try to put the Foresters ahead. Luke Roberts made some great cover tackles and a good break; George Cinderey broke away so fast after a Widden infringement that the referee didn’t notice and blew up without playing advantage. Later Drybrook rolled a maul over Widden’s line and were awarded a five metre scrum although George Cinderey was found underneath a pile of bodies, grounding the ball for an excellent but disallowed try. The referee, Pete Cinderey, must have had some stick from his son on the way home. Good pressure by Drybrook, with Abi Greaves and Aiden Pope impressing, gave Connor Gardiner the chance to peel from a scrum and extend their lead by curving round the Widden defence. As half time approached Luke Stephens took the ball from a Widden lineout and stormed through for another good try to keep the visitors in the game at 15-10.
Drybrook scored first after the break, when good work by Tom Woodman and Kieran Auker-Howlett saw Connor Gardiner swooping over for his third try of the match and fourth of the day. Widden then piled on the pressure, camping deep in Drybrook territory for several minutes and being held up twice when over the line. Luke Roberts made several try saving tackles but eventually their exertion paid off as Widden’s Luke Stephens rounded off an excellent display with his third touch down.Drybrook kept attacking, with their forwards competing hard and the backs spinning it along the line until winger Luke Roberts charged over for a typically robust try to seal the result of this much closer contest.
Drybrook represented by:
Kieran Auker-Howlett, Will Biggs, Shaun Carter, George Cinderey, Connor
Gardiner, Alex George, Abi Greaves, Alex Iles, Josh Peck, Aidan Pope, Luke
Roberts and Thomas Woodman.
Drybrook RFC U8s & U7s Match Reports,
Sunday 23rd April 2006
Drybrook took on Berry Hill at the
Mannings ground, winning quite comfortably. Ben Moss and Mark White made some
excellent breaks while the rest of the team tackled well.
The Drybrook scorers were: Sam Teague, Jordan Dainty, Joe Watts, Mac Dale and
Dewi Wilcox (2).
Drybrook played well against Berry Hill,
forcing a draw against their visitors in an exciting match. The Drybrook scorers
were: Kerry Powell, Ollie Moore and Bailey Watts.
Drybrook players Chanise Beard and BJ Bowdler were lent to Berry Hill to make up
the numbers, each scoring a try against their home club.
Drybrook RFC U9s Match Report, Sunday 2nd
April 2006: away to Chosen Hill
Chosen Hill U9s 35 Drybrook U9s
15
This was the fourth meeting this season between these two sides, with the tally standing at ‘Won: 1; Drawn: 1; Lost: 1’ for each team. Chosen Hill started well with the powerful Elliot Creed scoring a good opening try in the first minute. Drybrook scrum half Connor Gardiner nearly equalised with a good break down the right wing but was taken into touch inches out. The Foresters applied pressure for a couple of minutes near the line before fly half George Cinderey surged through several tackles for an excellent score to level. Chris Ritchie started the second quarter by taking advantage of some weak defending to touch down for Chosen Hill, regaining the lead. Again Drybrook took up the challenge, rucking well in attack until eventually Connor Gardiner out-sprinted the Hill to relevel the tally at two tries apiece. But again Drybrook’s tackling let them down and Chosen Hill’s Joe Mullins barged through to make it 15-10 at half time.
Drybrook came out after the break in far
more positive mood, with Alex George and Thomas Woodman doing sterling work in
the rucks. Luke Roberts put in a fine tackling display all day, single-handedly
chasing down several Hill attacks and keeping the score respectable. The
visiting backs threw the ball along the line a couple of times and then Connor
Gardiner broke out and scored his second to tie the scores at the end of the
third quarter. Unfortunately Drybrook switched off for most of the final
quarter: Chosen Hill’s Joe Mullins took the ball at the restart and thundered
through for his second try of the day. It was one-sided from that moment:
Player of the Match Mullins scored two more as he brushed through the visitor’s
defence and Nick Bates broke through for one of his own to seal a disappointing
end to Drybrook’s day.
Drybrook represented by: Kieran Auker-Howlett, Will Biggs, Chris Brain, George Cinderey, Connor Gardiner, Alex George, Abi Greaves, Alex Iles, Aidan Pope, Luke Roberts and Thomas Woodman.
Drybrook RFC Under Nines get their team
strip sponsored by Ross Aviation.
Drybrook RFC U9s team pictured with (r to
l): Pete Cinderey (coach), Mark Biggs (sponsor, Ross Aviation) and Clive Brain
(coach).
Drybrook Under Nines met up with their
sponsor, Mark Biggs of Ross Aviation, at Dursley during their high scoring
appearance at the County Cup festival. Drybrook scored fifteen tries during
their five matches, conceding just three.
This is the third side at Drybrook to attract sponsorship: Drybrook RFC Mini
Junior Section Chairperson Dave Auker-Howlett said that the club was very
grateful for the help provided by the local community, thanking Ross Aviation (U9s),
Fisher Builders (U10s), Richards Crane & Transport (U16s) and the local Parish
Council for their support.
U7s & U8s Match Reports, Sun 2nd
April 2006: away to Chosen Hill
Chosen Hill U8s 5 Drybrook U8s
30
A Drybrook side bereft of several key
players and with several new signings played well to win so comprehensively
away. The Drybrook try scorers were Ollie Moore (1), Dewi Wilcox (1), and an
outstanding Joe Watts (4). Rhys Willis made some good tackles in his first match
in this U8s side.
Chosen Hill U7s 20 Drybrook U7s
20
Drybrook played a very spirited game in wet conditions with some good tackles being made by Macauley Moore and Ollie Thomas. Drybrook try scorers were Ollie Moore with a well deserved hat-trick and Kerry Powell (1).
Drybrook U9s Match Reports from the
County Festival at Dursley RFC, 19th March 2006.
The U9s County Festival was blessed with
fine sunny weather and was excellently organised by Dursley RFC. Drybrook put in
a powerful performance, scoring fifteen tries and conceding just one in the pool
matches before losing a close match with Cirencester A in the quarterfinals.
After some good Longlevens possession Drybrook turned the ball over and Luke Roberts made a determined counterattack; Longlevens regained the advantage near their line but a crunching tackle by Will Biggs and good rucking by Kieran Auker-Howlett made the ball available for Alex Iles to pounce for Drybrook’s try.
Longlevens scored from a line-out to
make it even at half time: the second half was spent mostly in Drybrook’s
territory but neither side could break the deadlock and the score remained the
same until the final whistle.
Drybrook were in their stride by the second match and Alex George stamped his mark early on with a good run down the left flank; from the breakdown fly half George Cinderey broke through then spun the ball along the line to Luke Roberts for a well-worked score. After some good containing play with prop Jordan Taylor leading the tackle-count Drybrook forced their way out once more, Alex George charging down the wing again to make it 10-0 as the half ended.
The second half was more even as a series of penalties stopped the Foresters from converting their territorial advantage into points.
With Drybrook’s Chris Brain helping out an under strength Cinderford side it was evenly matched at the start of the third game. Drybrook exerted pressure with good driving tackles and excellent passing until inside centre Alex Iles broke through for a fine score. Cinderford fought back and threatened to equalise but Drybrook scrum half Connor Gardiner saw a gap and countered, nearly reaching the tryline before a last ditch tackle put him into touch a metre from the corner flag. Thomas Woodman and Aiden Pope kept out a ferocious Cinderford pack with a great display of rucking so there was just one score in it at the break.
Drybrook came out again with coach Pete Cinderey’s words ringing in their ears and totally dominated the second half, passing fluently along their three quarter line and knocking Cinderford back in the tackle. Luke Roberts crashed through for Drybrook’s second, followed by Kieran Auker-Howlett curving around the defence to make it 15-0. Turnover ball saw Connor Gardiner break out from the halfway line for Drybrook’s fourth and a minute later Alex Iles repeated the feat to seal the result.
Drybrook started at full throttle in their last pool game with Alex Iles storming down the right wing to open the scoring in the first minute. Drybrook’s physical style of play saw Stow awarded a couple of penalties before Alex Iles ripped the ball out of a tackle on the halfway line and sped over for his second brace and fifth score of the day. Luke Roberts powered over for his third try of the tournament in typically forthright style and Will Biggs jinked his way through a thoroughly bewildered Stow defence for the try of the day. Stow made a good recovery from this onslaught; one of their backs racing across field for what seemed a certain try before being brilliantly tackled into touch by Josh Peck, on as a blood substitution for Iles.
The second half saw more of the same, with fly half George Cinderey spinning the ball wide for his backs and the forwards tackling Stow to a standstill. First Luke Roberts and then Connor Gardiner burst through, with the latter scoring Drybrook’s fifth try. Alex George crashed over again for 30-0 while Shaun Carter put in some excellent tackles and rucked powerfully to deny Stow possession. In the final seconds Drybrook again sent it along the line for Kieran Auker-Howlett to round off a comprehensive victory.
In their quarterfinal match Drybrook
played well against a physically bigger Cirencester side, competing fiercely in
the rucks and tackling with great courage, Aidan Pope and Jordan Taylor in the
forefront. Eventually Cirencester outflanked the Foresters for their first try
but although camped in Drybrook territory for the rest of the half couldn’t
increase their tally as the Foresters dug in.
After the break Cirencester scored again from a penalty but Drybrook didn’t give up, spending the rest of the game attacking the Cirencester line. Cirencester defended their lead with determination and the hard fought match ended with no further score, but Drybrook can be proud of their performance: they gave it their all.
Drybrook represented by: Kieran Auker-Howlett, Will Biggs, Chris Brain, Shaun Carter, George Cinderey, Connor Gardiner, Alex George, Alex Iles, Josh Peck, Aidan Pope, Luke Roberts, Jordan Taylor and Thomas Woodman.
Drybrook U7s 5 Bream U7s 20
Bream and Drybrook played two short matches as they each had plenty of players. In the first match Bream started quickly, with Sam Beddis racing through for the visitor’s first try. Drybrook’s Kerry Powell made a fine cover tackle to keep out a certain score but a couple of minutes later Liam Brady sped through for Bream’s second. Drybrook then exerted pressure on Bream but couldn’t quite make it over the line. Bream eventually repulsed the attack through a break by Beddis that set up a try for Joe Whittington. But Drybrook fought back courageously with a great charge from Chanise Beard leading to a good try from Sam Teague, making it 5-15 at half time.
Drybrook had a better second period, spending more time in Bream’s territory. Chanise Beard had a try disallowed after a slight knock-on but Bream’s Liam Brady outpaced the home defence and added his second a minute later. Drybrook didn’t give up and attacked to the end with Kerry Powell unlucky not to score just before the final whistle.
The second game started in similar style
to the first: Bream feeding the ball to their best players, Liam Brady and Sam
Beddis, who used their speed and size to power through for solo tries to make it
0-15. Drybrook didn’t crumble under the pressure and now played their best
rugby of the day. They had one try disallowed before Sam Teague burst over in
typically direct style to score his second try of the day. Chanise Beard made
another storming run and was tackled just a metre out and Rhys Willis was
adjudged in touch while grounding the ball in the corner. Drybrook’s
spirit was commendable in the face of such an experienced side. Drybrook’s
Player of the Day was Rhys Willis; Bream’s was Josh Skidmore.
Drybrook represented by:
Chanise Beard, Tim Beard, Macauley Moore, Kerry Powell, Nathan Powell, Jobi
Seal, Sam Teague, Tom Teague, Rhys Willis.
Old Richians U10's 10 Drybrook U10's 0
Old Patesians U10's 5 Drybrook U10's 20
Drybrook travelled to Gloucester for a round robin with Old
Richians and Old Patesians.
Drybrook
were playing their best team game for some time, with everyone contributing and
supporting each other well. Kieran Auker-Howlett was back to his old form:
tackling low, running hard and passing accurately. Will Biggs, Thomas Woodman
and Alex Iles were ripping the ball out of the tackle at every opportunity while
Aidan Pope, George Cinderey and Alex George tackled at will. But Ledbury
never gave up, making a sustained effort at the end of the period that was
rewarded with a touchline try to make it 5-15. From the first line-out in
the third period the home side spun it wide and a rare missed tackle by Drybrook
let Ledbury’s best back speed down the right wing for a good touchdown, cutting
the Forester’s lead to five points. This was the wake-up call that
Drybrook needed and a fired-up Luke Roberts smashed through five tackles for a
superb individual score. The visitors kept up the pressure and another powerful
burst by Will Biggs took him over the opposing tryline but he was smothered in
tacklers and the ball went loose off a defender. Connor Gardiner and George
Cinderey pounced on the ball, with Gardiner just claiming the touchdown for his
brace. In the final play of the match more pressure from the Foresters saw
Gardiner tackled into touch inches from the Ledbury line, rounding off an
impressive display of team discipline from the Drybrook youngsters.
Drybrook started positively, turning
over a powerful Longlevens attack, but a loose pass was intercepted and the
visitors chalked up their first score in the second minute. The home side
responded well, passing along their back line and keeping the well-drilled
Longlevens side at bay for the rest of the first period with some great
tackling, especially from Jordan Taylor and Connor Gardiner.
The third quarter was Drybrook’s best,
with captain Jordan Taylor giving a master class in crunching tackles, Luke
Roberts harassing the opposition and Alex Iles, William Biggs and Alex George
ripping the ball out of tackles and making good ground. But there was no way
through and with both teams so committed to the tackle the third period was
scoreless. The final quarter started with a fumble
on the Drybrook tryline and Longlevens pounced for another soft score. Drybrook
fly half George Cinderey made a great tackle into touch and then showed his form
with several good breaks; Aidan Pope and Gardiner kept up the pressure and
Taylor continued tackling. In the final minute Longlevens set up a
rolling maul, which rumbled down the left side all the way to the line, giving
them their last score in this convincing victory.
