Western Counties North

Bristol Harlequins 19

A LOSING bonus point was scant reward for Drybrook's efforts.

Aaron Ryder kicked a second minute penalty and things got even better when Quins had a back-row player sin-binned on 16 minutes.

Ryder charged down a clearance and stylishly gathered the awkwardly bouncing ball to dive over near the posts. He converted his own try to make it 10-0.

Drybrook should have stretched their lead even further, but Tom Treherne was unable to gather a Sam Peaper offload.

Quins kicked a 32nd minute penalty, then outstripped the Drybrook defence to score a try in the corner.

The visitors went 11-10 up within a minute of the restart with a penalty.

Ten minutes later they scored their second try – wheeling the Drybrook scrum on the home 22 and earning the put-in. A quick heel allowed them to score down the blindside.

Ryder knocked over a penalty from in front of the posts, but Quins maintained their advantage with a penalty of their own.

With a minute to go, Drybrook looked sure to score from a fine driving maul.

A Quins defender threw a punch, but the referee only saw Chris Rawlings wrestle the offender to the ground in retaliation.

The referee red carded Rawlings then awarded Quins a penalty. They cleared the danger and held on for victory.

Drybrook: Aiden Price, Gareth Jones, Simon Rugman, Tom Roach, Sam Peaper, Aaron Ryder, Tom Treherne, Tom Reed, Ashley Howells, Dean Jelf, Mitch Browning, Liam Jackson, Lee Ward (capt), Dan Price, Peter Meek. Reps: Steve Virgo, Mitch Bourne, Chris Rawlings.