United XV Match Reports  for 2005/6

 

8th April - Westbury 1sts 12pts   Drybrook United 3pts

Nil – nil at half time

Former Drybrook player Neil Lewis scored Westbury’s first try with Andy Milner adding a penalty for Drybrook. Westbury sealed victory with a penalty try after a supporting player was taken out without the ball.

25th March - Citizen Merit League 1
 Drybrook United CANCELLED Gordon League II

Drybrook United’s match at home to Gordon League seconds was cancelled an hour before kick off as the visitors were unable to raise a team.

11th March - Citizen Merit League 1
Berry Hill Utd 5pts Drybrook United 9pts

Drybrook’s second string pulled off a good victory at Lakers Road against a BerryHill team who were still in with a chance of the league title.  This was the second time Drybrook have scraped home against BerryHill this season with this match even tighter than the first. The game was a close one to call throughout as the teams cancelled each other with a good deal of commitment shown by both sides.  BerryHill grabbed the only try of the game after 30 minutes when they squeezed in at the corner following a lot of pressure on Drybrook’s line.  On the stroke of half time Andy Milner kicked a penalty for Drybrook after Richard Probert had been impeded when trying to chip over the Hill defence.

A very close second half eventually saw Milner put his team in front with a second penalty and 5 minutes from the end Jimmy Ryder gave Drybrook some breathing space with a drop goal.  Particularly impressive for Drybrook were second row Matt Jones, flanker Dean Large and stand off Jimmy Ryder

4th March - Citizen Merit League 1
Drybrook United 24pts  Matson Utd 3pts

The United XV made heavy weather of what should have been a more comfortable victory over a Matson outfit that offered very little in attack.  Second row Paul Sainsbury opened the scoring with a try in the opening minutes, converted by Andy Milner but Drybrook had to wait 20 minutes for their second score.  Centre Steve Skelton made an excellent break but was tackled just short of the line where the supporting Simon Burke was on hand to touch down.  Milner again added the extra points but all Drybrook could manage after this were two second half pushover tries by No 8 Peter Meek despite the fact that they dominated most phases of the game.

18th February - Old Centralians 5pts Drybrook United 17ts

This match was abandoned 10 minutes into the second half when Drybrook’s scrum half Tom Treherne suffered a very serious ankle injury that required hospital attention.  It was a great pity for Treherne who was enjoying a good game for Drybrook and had already scored two tries for his team.  The first came early in the first half when a powerful Drybrook scrum gave Treherne the platform to race over from close range and Nick Creswick added the extra points.   Midway through the first half Drybrook lost the services of flanker Lee Ward with a knee injury but they kept up the pressure and Treherne was able to race in for his second try.  Old Centralians came back strongly just before the interval with a try near the posts but the strong wind blew the conversion attempt off course.

In the second half Drybrook quickly got into their stride and fullback Dan Large took advantage of a dropped pass in mid field to race up the touch line before passing inside to Dave Payne who crossed for a try.  Drybrook were beginning to get on top and enjoyed several more thrusts up field but unfortunately one such surge led to Treherne’s injury and the abandonment of the game.

18th February - Citizen Merit League 1
Old Richians "A" 18pts Drybrook United 12pts

Drybrook were edged out for a second time this season by Richians in a game that could have gone either way. Ultimately Drybrook’s discipline cost them the game as the home side kicked 2 of a number of penalty awards in an otherwise absorbing contest in which both teams scored 2 tries. For Drybrook front row men Mark Castree and Clive Boughton grabbed the touch downs with Andy Milner adding one conversion.

11th February - Citizen Merit League 1
Drybrook United 20pts Cheltenham Sabres 6pts

This was another good win for the United XV against a useful Cheltenham outfit who made them work hard for their scores.  Drybrook were very fortunate to have two players in outstanding form in back row men Dale Critchley and Peter Meek and they were largely responsible for driving their team forward on countless occasions.  Sabres led at the interval with 2 penalties to a lone Dan Large try that came from a good handling move down field.

Early in the second half Critchley crossed for 2 tries to leave Sabres chasing the game and when they tried a quick line out later on the loose ball was snapped up by Drybrook who spun it wide for replacement prop Mark Castree to score in the corner.

4th February - Hereford 2nds 15pts Drybrook United 12pts

A penalty kick with the last play of the game robbed Drybrook of at least a share of the spoils at Hereford’s riverside ground. Drybrook looked set for victory when they led by 12pts – nil with tries from Dan Large and Steve Lewis with Andy Milner adding 1 conversion.

Drybrook held this lead for most of the game but let it slip with 10 minutes remaining as the home side first drew level and then stole victory with that last gasp kick.

28th January - Citizen Merit League 1
Drybrook United 16pts ConeyHill "A" 22pts

A committed performance from Drybrook was not enough against a strong ConeyHill outfit who had a solid defence and plenty of attacking flair out wide.  A tense first half saw neither team able to break through until an injury to a ConeyHill prop led to uncontested scrums and once again Drybrook were forced to loose one of the most influential parts of their game.  ConeyHill were able to exploit a more solid springboard to attack from and scored a converted try quickly followed by a penalty to lead at the interval.

In the second half Drybrook rarely threatened but ConeyHill were able to add 2 tries to seal victory

21st January - Cheltenham North 24pts Drybrook United 16pts

 
A committed performance from both teams made this a good game to watch and with only a couple of minutes remaining one point separated the sides. It was then that a Cheltenham North try finally settled the issue.
In contrast to the earlier game at Drybrook that was so fiercely contested that only a single penalty decided the outcome in North’s favour, this time the scoreboard operator was kept busy.
North built up a comfortable lead by moving the ball wide as often as possible only for Drybrook to get themselves right back in it with a Pete Meek try converted by Andy Milner who also added 3 penalties.
A tense last 5 minutes then ensued with Drybrook trailing by 16pts – 17pts but North’s late try proved the deciding score.
Milner’s 11points took him past the 100 point barrier for the season.

14th January - Drybrook United 17pts Old Centralians "A" nil

 
Another good performance from the United XV led to their fifth victory in a row at the expense of a big Old Centralians team.
Drybrook threatened to run away with things early in the first half with tries from Richard Russell and the impressive Simon Rugman with Andy Milner converting both and adding a penalty. From then on the visitors came more into the game and though both teams created chances neither side were able to break through.

7th January  - Citizen Merit table 1
Drybrook 20pts - Gloucester Old Boys 0 pts
 

Another good performance from the United XV led to their second victory over Old Boys this season. Drybrook’s pack were again in good form and laid the foundation for Andy Milner to open the scoring with a penalty. The only other score of the first half saw flanker Sean Bourne dive on the loose ball following a lot of pressure on Old Boy’s line.
In the second half Drybrook played all the rugby but the freezing conditions and heavy ground made things difficult. They did manage 2 more tries through scrum half Tom Treherne and impressive flanker Jim Rugman with Milner adding 1 conversion.
 

17th December  - Monmouth 8pts  - Drybrook 62pts
 

Drybrook’s second string put in their best performance for many a day to eventually overwhelm Monmouth 2nds at the Sports Centre.  There was no hint of what was to come after a tense first half in which Drybrook were a shade fortunate to be ahead at the interval.  Monmouth started the stronger and only desperate defence kept them out in the early stages but eventually they kicked a penalty to take the lead.  Drybrook’s Andy Milner soon levelled things with a penalty and then N0 8 Richard Probert crossed for a try following a typically strong run.  A loose ball in mid field was then snapped up by centre Dan Large who brushed past several defenders on his way to a fine individual score for Milner to add the extra points.  Monmouth were still very much in it at this stage and added a try of their own to turn around at the break trailing by 15pts – 8pts.
Drybrook’s young back division really came in to their own after the interval and they were able to capitalise on a wealth of possession as Monmouth began to tire.  Centre Dave Appleby was particularly outstanding and apart from scoring 2 tries himself he had a hand in most of Drybrook’s attacking play.  On a day when everything seemed to go right for them Drybrook added other tries through Dean Large, Chris Morgan, Tom Roach, Richard Russell and Carl Moore.
Andy Milner again showed good form with the boot and added six second half conversions to finish with a personal tally of 17 points for the match.
Other players to catch the eye for Drybrook were substitute scrum half Carl Moore who was playing his first game for the seconds, winger Tom Roach and forwards Ryan Tandy and Dean Large who supported intelligently throughout

3rd December  - Gordon League 6pts - Drybrook 15pts
Citizen Merit table 1

Drybrook’s forwards completely destroyed their opposite numbers in this match at Hempstead Lane and were largely responsible for this good victory.
The dangerous looking League backs were denied any worthwhile possession but with 2 minutes remaining it was still anybody’s game as Drybrook were only 10pts – 6pts up.
A powerful scrum on the League’s line led to flanker Sean Bourne diving on the loose ball to claim his second try of the match and to seal victory for his team.
Andy Milner scored Drybrook’s other points with a penalty and a conversion.
 

12th November  - Drybrook 6pts - Berry Hill Utd 0pts
Citizen Merit table 1

Drybrook got stuck into their visitors from the start of this match and surprised a strong looking Berry Hill outfit with their determination.  Berry Hill created the better scoring opportunities but they were constantly knocked back by solid Drybrook tackling.  The only scoring in the first half came from an Andy Milner penalty.

Drybrook had to soak up a lot of pressure at the start of the second half but eventually they worked their way down field where Milner was successful with a second penalty.  Berry Hill brought on several substitutes in an effort to break the deadlock but try as they might they could find no way through Drybrook’s defence

5th November  - Drybrook 9pts - Ross on Wye 1st XV 13pts

Ross kept up their unbeaten season in this match at the Mannings but Drybrook’s young team ran them very close.

Drybrook handed a debut to 17 year old centre Nick Lewis and he performed admirably in a very young back line but Ross just did enough to claim victory.

For Drybrook Andy Milner slotted 3 penalties.

22nd October  - Drybrook 7pts - Old Richians II 13pts

Despite a wealth of possession Drybrook could not break down a tough tackling Richians outfit who frustrated them all afternoon and eventually sneaked an unlikely victory.  Drybrook dominated the first half and created several good scoring opportunities but failed to convert them into points whereas Richians had very few chances but from one of these they kicked a penalty for a slender half time lead.

The second half was much the same but Richians were able to halt most of Drybrook’s attacks by tackling gallantly all afternoon and getting numbers quickly to the breakdown.  A rare sortie into Drybrook’s half led to a second successful penalty and then almost immediately Richians grabbed a try when a break through the heart of the home defence led to a try on the overlap.  Drybrook responded quickly with a try from stand off Jimmy Ryder converted by Andy Milner but despite some frantic pressure at the end they were unable to close the gap.

15th October  - Drybrook 31pts - Hucclecote 'A' 7pts

A good performance from the United particularly in the first half led to a comfortable victory over a useful Hucclecote outfit.  Dean Large, Nick Creswick and Richard Probert scored first half tries for Drybrook with Andy Milner adding 2 conversions.

Hucclecote dominated the first 20 minutes of the second half but only managed one try and then Drybrook broke away against the run of play with a try from skipper Andy Jones.  Hucclecote threw everything into attack after that but Drybrook soaked up the pressure and had the last word when substitute Jamie Roberts intercepted to touch down under the posts for Milner to convert.

8th October - Citizen Merit League 1
Cheltenham 46 - Drybrook 3

The United were unfortunate to play the Cheltenham second string masquerading as their 3rd team in this match at the Prince of Wales stadium.  The home side were big and skilful and it was to Drybrook’s credit that they hung in there and tackled their hearts out but eventually the weight and superiority took its toll.

Drybrook ended the game with only 12 men on the field and only managed one score through a penalty from Andy Milner.

1st October - Citizen Merit League 1
Coney Hill II 22 - Drybrook 8

ConeyHill were much the better team in the first half where they used the wind and slope advantage to good effect to keep Drybrook pinned back for long periods.  The home side opened their account with a penalty after 6 minutes and then added a try soon after following a catch and drive from a lineout.  Andy Milner reduced the deficit with a penalty for Drybrook but Coney Hill scored a second try just before the break when a huge opening appeared that led to a simple score.

It was a different story in the second half and Dale Critchley soon narrowed the gap when he forced his way over the line following a quick tap penalty.  Drybrook got themselves into several good positions in the second half but just could not add to their score and then in the last minute Coney Hill broke up field to clinch victory with a try at the death

24th September - Citizen Merit League 1
Drybrook United nil Cheltenham North 3pts

The score line in this match belies what an exiting encounter it was between two evenly balanced teams that was ultimately decided with a penalty on the stroke of half time.  Drybrook had the better forward platform but North looked sharper out behind and neither team was able to dominate as defences were in excellent form on both sides.

Such was the ferocity of effort from both teams that several players were forced to leave the field early and eventually uncontested scrums had to be brought in.  This signalled disaster for Drybrook as despite getting into several good positions they were unable to use their front five superiority when it really mattered.

17th September - Painswick 3 - Drybrook 15

DRYBROOK's second XV won 15-3 at Painswick with a penalty-try being awarded after Jimmy Ryder was impeded. Dave Auker-Howlett got the other touchdown with Andy Milner adding one penalty and a conversion.

10th September -PACK POWER HOLDS KEY TO VICTORY FOR DRYBROOK.
GLOS OLD BOYS 17 - DRYBROOK 18.

Drybrook's forwards helped them to a Citizen Merit Table One victory after they were on the back foot for most of the second half.
The Old Boys backs were quick, but were starved of possession by Drybrook's superior forwards.
Tony Hussey, Richard Probert and Alan Parsons scored tries for Drybrook, with Andy Milner adding a penalty.

3rd September - DRYBROOK United beat Monmouth II 36-10.


Monmouth were short of recognised front-row players so the game had to be played with uncontested scrums. Monmouth opened the scoring with an early try and managed to hang onto this lead until the interval.

Drybrook made several substitutions in the second-half and ran out comfortable victors.

Chris Tingle scored two tries with others coming from Jon Mustoe, Jim Rugman and Jimmy Ryder, who also added a penalty and three conversions.

Alan Parsons completed the scoring with the last conversion kick

 

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