Drybrook leapfrogged previously unbeaten Trowbridge with a 37-13 win to move top of the Regional Two Severn league, writes Chris Tingle.
After three games on the road Drybrook were back at the Mannings on a glorious early autumn afternoon to face a tough test against a big Trowbridge outfit who had also had an excellent start to this season’s campaign.
Drybrook kicked off towards the clubhouse and went close to scoring through live-wire winger Cai Rogers.
The home team settled for a five-metre line-out, moving the ball infield where Joe O’Rourke was on hand to score his first try for the men in green.
Trowbridge, after the early storm, were beginning to get more into the game, splitting the Drybrook defence for their first try. The successful conversion gave them a 7-5 lead after 20 minutes.
Drybrook’s domination at the set piece led to the away team conceding ground, and a well struck Matt Tinker penalty put the Green Machine back in front by a point.
Two late penalties gave the visitors the lead at the break with the score line Drybrook 8-13 Trowbridge.
As has become the norm this season, Drybrook were soon on the attack. An early penalty attempt was put wide, but Drybrook pulled level after some great play led to a Cai Rogers try.
More enterprising play behind orchestrated by stand-off Bradley Morgan meant that Luke Roberts was able to beat his man, and cross for Drybrook’s third for an 18-13 lead.
While dominating the front row exchanges, hooker Mikey Adiss still had the energy to make it out to the wing and cross for another try.
He then picked the perfect line through the centre for his second try of the afternoon with versatile scrum-half Ioan Vaughan Jones putting Drybrook out of sight at 30-13..
Drybrook have been miserly this season so far and their Scrooge-like defence held firm once again with some tremendous work put in by Jack Moss and Danny Price.
After soaking up the pressure Drybrook let loose again and Mikey Adiss was the recipient of more fast flowing rugby as he completed his hat trick with another well taken try. Jones converted to put the top hat on another excellent victory over a good Trowbridge side.
There were a number of notable performances, The front five dominated the scrums, while out behind Brad Morgan and the returning Rhys Greenway both had strong games. The replacements from the bench all made an impact, and the squad is looking stronger than ever.
Mikey Adiss took the Man Of The Match adulation, after his impressive performance and hat trick of trys, along with winger Cai Rogers
The first 15 have a break this weekend but they would surely have relished the thought of taking on bogey team Thornbury, after showing such good form in the opening block of games.
It will, however, give the lads some respite and make selection even more difficult as the injured players come back into contention.