Drybrook surged to the top of the table with a commanding 38-5 victory over Thornbury, overcoming early nerves and difficult conditions on the all-weather pitch at Hartpury after heavy rain left the Mannings unplayable.

With the pressure of knowing a win would see them leapfrog their rivals, Drybrook made a shaky start. A heavy drizzle made handling tricky, and they struggled to deal with the kick-off, allowing Thornbury to apply early pressure.

However, strong defensive work from Bailey Watts and Casey Morgan kept the visitors at bay, allowing Drybrook to clear their lines and settle into the contest

The home side soon established dominance in the scrum, with front-row trio Dean Jelf, Mikey Addis, and Louis Morgan causing problems for their opposite numbers and earning valuable possession.

A scrum penalty allowed Drybrook to kick deep into Thornbury territory, and on 14 minutes, Jack Moss powered over for the opening try.

The remainder of the half was closely contested, but Drybrook always looked the more dangerous side with ball in hand. Their patience paid off just before the break, as centre Danny Price cut a fine line to score, with Haydn Lewis adding the extras for a 12-0 half-time lead.

Thornbury responded early in the second half, their forwards rumbling over from close range to reduce the deficit to 12-5. However, any hopes of a comeback were short-lived as Drybrook took control of the final half-hour.

Sam Edwards was first to capitalise, finishing a well-worked backs move after Mitch Baldwin had driven play into the opposition half. Lewis slotted the conversion to extend the lead to 19-5. Addis then powered over from the back of a rolling maul to secure the bonus point, again converted by Lewis.

Drybrook’s best play came in the final quarter. Ryan Chappell showcased his pace down the right wing for a superb try, before Lewis produced a moment of class in the dying seconds, slicing through the defence before offloading to Addis for his second try of the afternoon.

The final 38-5 scoreline flattered Drybrook slightly, as they had to work hard to overcome a determined Thornbury side. The five points were welcomed, but the team knows they must maintain intensity for the full 80 minutes to stay on top.

Among a strong team performance, the Morgan brothers impressed, Addis bagged a brace, and Brad Morgan controlled play well at fly-half. Price worked tirelessly in the centre before shifting to the back row, while Baldwin was a constant threat. Moss and Finn Watkins formed a solid second-row partnership, and the front three were outstanding. However, the standout performer was Lewis, whose game management, attacking flair, and flawless kicking made him instrumental in Drybrook’s victory.

Drybrook now turn their attention to a crucial home clash against Keynsham—a side that has already beaten them this season. With the league title race heating up, Drybrook will be eager to settle the score and strengthen their grip at the top.