Western Counties North

Stroud 41

WHEN you're struggling at the bottom of the table, nothing seems to go your way.

Drybrook got off to a great start and took the lead after five minutes with a try.

Winger Dan Large chased an up-and-under and robbed his opposite number of the ball. He flicked it inside to his brother Dean, who crossed midway out.

Ten minutes later Drybrook should have extended their lead when winger Gareth Jones touched down in the corner, but the referee did not award the score.

Drybrook kept up the pressure but missed a couple of penalty kicks. They went very close again when Dean Large was penalised with the line at his mercy.

Stroud survived the onslaught and grew in confidence after kicking a penalty.

They took the lead with a 37th minute try in the corner after relentless pressure created an overlap.

Drybrook were awarded a penalty but Andy Milner's kick rebounded off the upright. Stroud secured the loose ball and caught Drybrook off guard by attacking from their own line for a wonderful try.

At the start of the second half Drybrook lost prop forward Dean Jelf through injury.

Stroud added two more tries, but Drybrook spent a lot of time battering away at the opposition's line.

Gareth Jones failed to gather an awkwardly bouncing ball after a kick and chase.

Stroud hit Drybrook on the break with a try under the posts, but the Foresters finally got some reward for their enterprise when sub Mitch Browning was bundled over for a try that Milner converted.

Stroud had the last word with another try at the death.

The final score was not a fair reflection of the game and there were a lot of positives for Drybrook.

Second-rows Dean Large and Ben Warren and back-rows Pete Meek and Dan Price were the pick of their team.

Drybrook's set piece play was the best it has been for some time with hooker Ashley Howells and stand-in jumper Mitch Bourne combining to provide a constant supply of possession from the line-out.

Drybrook: Andy Milner, Gareth Jones, Aiden Price, Dan Cox, Dan Large, Chris Rawlings, Tom Treherne, Dean Jelf, Ashley Howells (capt), Steve Virgo, Ben Warren, Dean Large, Mitch Bourne, Danny Price, Peter Meek. Reps: Bobby Walding, Mitch Browning, Tony Suter.