Western Counties North

Matson 55

DRYBROOK'S desperately poor season continued with another heavy, morale-sapping defeat, this time at the hands of a far superior Matson outfit.

Drybrook made the best possible start when Aaron Ryder kicked them into the lead with a first minute penalty.

Matson hit straight back with an equalising kick after Drybrook strayed offside at a ruck.

Drybrook were unable to get decent go-forward ball, but did well to stay in the contest. Against the run of play, Ryder put them ahead with his second penalty from close to halfway.

Matson hit back with a try, stretching the home defence, but Drybrook regained the lead when full-back Max Davies scooped up a loose ball in his own 22 and outstripped the Matson defence to race in. Ryder converted, but Drybrook's advantage was short-lived as Matson secured possession from a stray pass and scored on the overlap.

On the stroke of half-time, a poor clearance kick allowed Matson to score again to really knock the stuffing out of the hosts.

After the break, Drybrook were forced to live off scraps of possession. Matson cut through a tiring midfield for their fourth try and were now running with the ball from all positions.

Poor tackling resulted in another Matson score, then the home side were powerless to stop a driving maul from making it over the line.

Another touchdown from a deep position followed, before an embarrassing day ended with a Matson penalty-try for a deliberate knock-on.

Although outclassed, Drybrook's young players did not deserve the obvious lack of respect shown to them by the Matson kicker – who shamefully attempted to back heel the final conversion over the bar.

Drybrook: Max Davies, Alex Lloyd, Aiden Price, Dan Cox, SamPeaper, Aaron Ryder, Tom Treherne, Steve Virgo, Dean Jelf, Lee Phelps, Anthony O'Riordan, Liam Jackson (capt), Mitch Bourne, Dan Price, Peter Meek. Reps: Dean Large, Tom Roach, Chris Rawlings.

DRYBROOK Extras beat Westbury-on-Severn A 34-0 in Gloucestershire Reserve League Division Three North.

Westbury arrived with only 14 players so Tom Maskell donned the blue and white shirt for the day.

Injuries meant Clive Boughton and Chris Parker also turned out for Westbury.

Phil Probert (2), Richard Probert, James Meek, Gareth Jones and Ian Jeffs scored tries for Drybrook, with Jimmy Ryder kicking two conversions.

Westbury were well served by prop Dave Williams, who had a stormer against his old club.