Gloucestershire Premier

Southmead 16

A CHARGED up Southmead team took full advantage of a massive penalty count in their favour.

Drybrook were frustrated by the number of decisions that went against them and it disrupted their rhythm to such an extent that they rarely had the chance to string any phases together.

Drybrook made all the early running but had to wait until the 20th minute for some reward. Skipper Ashley Howells powered over for a try from close range, with Tom Treherne adding the conversion.

Southmead offered little in the first half except physicality and they managed to frustrate Drybrook for long periods. On 35 minutes they kicked a penalty to stay in the game.

Southmead had their best period at the start of the second half and scored a 46th minute try when a badly directed clearance kick was seized upon. Drybrook managed to halt the first attack but Southmead recycled the ball quickly and moved it to the opposite side where the winger squeezed in at the corner.

Southmead added a penalty when Drybrook centre Simon Rugman was harshly penalised for leading with his forearm when breaking through several tackles.

Another Southmead penalty followed on 25 minutes and by this time several Drybrook players were sporting bandages on their heads after receiving kicks and stamps that had gone unnoticed by the referee.

With 10 minutes remaining Drybrook were eventually awarded a penalty and Treherne slotted it between the posts to set up a tense finish. To their credit Drybrook continued to try and play rugby.

With a few minutes remaining the referee spotted another kick to the head from a Southmead player but astonishingly awarded only a yellow card.

Drybrook threw everything into attack but the referee's whistle arrived to save the home team who were defending their line desperately at the end.

Drybrook: Tom Treherne, Adam Swordy, Simon Rugman, Ben Large, Sam Peaper, Chris Rawlings, Dan Griffiths, Jun Sing Lee, Ashley Howells (capt), Will Chung, Richard Cottrell, Ben Steward, Dan Price, Mitch Browning, Fraser McArdell. Reps: Dean Jelf, Jim Rugman, Dan Large.