Drybrook 19 - 31 Weston

Weston travelled to the Forest of Dean looking to extend their four match unbeaten run. From the kick off however it was Drybrook who started with more energy and a fierce determination to beat the side who they had narrowly beaten earlier in the season.
The Weston defence was first class and repelled all attempts by the Drybook players who felt sure that Weston would not be able to keep up their superior line speed and double tackling.
Despite the energetic start by the home side Weston made great use of their first meaningful possession driving into the Drybrook half and then unleashing a slick attack by the backs which saw Harry Jones put into space and scoring Weston’s first try, converted by James MacKay. Weston now had momentum and with the Drybrook pack in real trouble against Weston’s powerful forward unit they conceded a penalty and Mackay slotted the kick from 35 metres.
Drybrook used their front row replacement but this made little difference to proceedings and Weston were well and truly in control as the pack provided a great platform from which Weston’s skilful backs stretched the Drybrook defence and Marcus Nel touched down Weston’s second. Glenn Dickson got the third a few minutes later, both tries converted by Mackay.
Weston looked as though they might run away with the game but perversely their forward dominance was brought to an abrupt halt as the Drybrook tight head prop was yellow carded for persistent infringement. With no qualified forward left to cover the game went to uncontested scrums. This allowed Drybrook to win clean ball at the scrum for the first time in the game and removed Weston’s very potent weapon.
The sides turned round with Weston holding a commanding 0 – 24 lead. Drybrook were still down to 14 men and winning ball from an uncontested scrum they forced their way over after 10 minutes when Mitch Baldwin touched down. The extras were missed.
Within 3 minutes the Weston backs were attacking with pace and flair and a sweet pass put Marcus Nel into space as he ran a great line and touched down the bonus point try. With Mackay off the field with an injury Glenn Dickson scored the conversion.
A further front row injury saw the game reduced to uncontested scrums for the last 20 minutes and Drybrook put in a great rear-guard action scoring two late tries to give them a respectable score. This very much flattered the home side who were comprehensively beaten in the forward department and whose backs simply could not compete with the skills and speed of Weston’s backs.
This win saw Weston chalk up another good score and a bonus point and bring their cumulative points in the last five games to 295, conceding 77. It moves Weston up to sixth place in South West Premier with one game remaining. Weston were fielding a young side with two 19 year olds and two 21 year olds in the pack. Tom Sugg was celebrating his 50th first team game and his 21st birthday. He was one of 10 players from the 18 Weston players fielded today who had come through Weston’s junior section and had played for Weston Colts, a great advertisement for community junior rugby.