Wanderers Downed in the Forrest

All good things must come to an end and as the Wanderers made the trip to Drybrook any rugby neutrals would have perhaps fancied the visitors to win, given the fine condition of the Drybrook pitch and dry and sunny weather.

After a heavy defeat at the hands of the Wanderers at Station Rd Drybrook looked a completely different side to the one that had conceded ten tries to the league leaders back in October.

Drybrook started well and after just 3 mins claimed a penalty in the Clifton 22 which the Drybrook scrum-half slotted between the posts with ease.

Despite drawing first blood the home side were unable to push on and regardless of their dominance of possession and territory were repeatedly repelled from the visitors try line even.

Clifton were forced down to 14 men as No.8 Josh Goddard was deemed to have landed a high arm on Drybrook body in a maul.

It wasn’t until the half hour mark, still with one man down that the visitors began to see glimmers of possession and their patience without the ball paid off as a Drybrook line out was stolen by second row Tom Barr and fly-half Luke Blizzard sliced through the defensive line and off load to top try scorer Mike Cross who went over.

Blizzard converted the extras, but again Drybrook fought back quickly again forcing another penalty out of the visitors failure to roll away making the score 6-7.

Clifton gained another score from prop Ben Christie after a loose kick from the Drybrook 10 fell short and allowed the ball to be shipped wide. Critically, Blizzard’s conversion struck the post and fell wide.

The visitors appeared to be in the ascendancy as the half progressed and winger Gareth Mason scored his second try of the season after a turnover in the mid-field allowed centre Matt Gibbs to break free and pass out wide.

Drybrook failed to convert a penalty on the stroke of half time as Goddard returned to the fray.

Clifton went into the break well aware that despite the score resting at 6 -17 in their favour the home side had well and truly dominated possession and territory and that there would be no let-up in the pressure Drybrook would apply.

Sure enough Drybrook ensured that they used every opportunity afforded to them and as the penalty count rose against Clifton so began a lengthy siege of the visitors 22 and were rewarded with try after a sustained phase of pick and goes against the Black and Lavender line allowed their scrum-half to dab down and convert his effort.

Clifton again waited patiently for their chances to come and it wasn’t long before scrum-half Alex Haynes spotted an opportunity to snipe around the fringes and touch down under the posts from 35 yards out to increase the gap to 11 points.

Drybrook pushed on and their gritty forward pack continued to ask questions with their driving maul and after yet another penalty against Clifton the home side rolled over from close range to close the score to 18-24.

Then came the critical moment of the game. Clifton, again capitalising on rare possession launched an attack into the home sides half and were awarded a rare penalty chance which rather convert and add a crucial 3 points the attackers chose to tap and go, only for the ball to be knocked on.

The final period of this game could only be described as pure bone on bone drama as Drybrook smelled blood and launched wave after wave of attacks into the Wanderers 22 only to be repelled time after time.

Clifton, despite a valiant defensive effort, found themselves edging closer to their own line and under the watchful eye of the rather partisan Drybrook crowd and after repeatedly falling foul of the Referee a Green and White appeared inevitable, it was just a matter of when.

Clifton held out until the 79th minute despite again being reduced to 14 men as Gibbs this time was deemed to have not released the tackled player. Drybrook kicked to the corner and after a period of several line-outs and multiple scrummages the visitors were deemed to have infringed at the scrum, although for what seemed unclear, and the Referee marched under the posts to award the penalty try.

Final score 25-24.

All credit to Drybook who executed their game plan for the afternoon perfectly and played with that ‘Forrest’ passion visiting all visiting sides should be wary of.

Well hosted in the bar after the Wanderers awarded flanker Ben Helps the M-O-M award for his defensive performance and leaving everything on the pitch that afternoon.

Beaten, but still top the league, the Wanderers march on and face Cleve United in the pool stages of the GRFU League Cup this Friday night at Station Rd (KO 7.30pm).

All spectators welcome.