Sat 20 Sep 2025
Bridgnorth travelled to the Forest of Dean to play Drybrook RFC for
the first time in their history. The supporters travelling in the
players’ minibus were well hosted at lunch by Chris, Phil and Paul as
other away supporters arrived at the clubhouse. Bridgnorth started the
game well, with Morgan French reclaiming possession from the kick-off.
The away side dominated the opening period with Paddy Smallman
carrying well and Luke Brough being held up over the line. The
Drybrook tackling (which was a feature for the whole game) held firm
however and Bridgnorth failed to get on the scoreboard despite
spending long periods in the opposition third of the pitch.
Drybrook started to establish their running game as they attacked away
from the clubhouse and Ed Taylor was given a yellow card for a high
tackle. This was followed by an attacking scrum for the home side and
their impressive number-eight grounded the ball for a pushover try
(unconverted.) Although the restart went out on the full, Bridgnorth
stayed in the game and when a Drybrook ‘back-three’ player knocked the
ball on from kick-ahead, Elliot Murphy was on hand to fly-hack the
ball on and then ground it in the corner for an excellent individual
try, he followed this up with a brilliant touchline conversion.
This was the highlight of the half for Bridgnorth however, as the
direct, powerful running of the opposition was causing numerous
problems, including a rising penalty count as the away-side players
continued to tackle too high. Events took a turn for the worse when
hooker George Newman had to leave the field with damaged ribs and the
front-row replacement Ben Rochelle came on. This left Bridgnorth
without a recognised lineout thrower. Ed Taylor came back on and
Bridgnorth rallied their attack. Morgan French was unlucky to be held
up over the line as the physicality of the game showed no signs of
letting up. The Drybook close-driving game then gave the home side
further reward as, after the Bridgnorth defence got sucked-in from
several drives, the ball was spun out for their full-back to cross for
an unconverted try.
Drybrook finished the first-half well on top and with problems at
scrum and lineout, the outlook was bleak for Bridgnorth. Dogged
tackling kept them in the game before the half-time whistle and props
Jacob Tomkinson and Aseri Lewasaru (Ace) worked overtime to shore up
the front row. Drybrook had played with great purpose and converted
their opportunities to take in a 12-7 lead. Drybrook started the
second half well as they attacked towards their clubhouse, another
penalty against Bridgnorth was kicked for three points as things
looked ominous for the away side. There then followed a seismic shift
in the game however as Bridgnorth played a possession-based game that
tired their opponents. Good hands in the backs saw Ollie Rowberry on
the wing held up over the line and after the drop-out kick went
straight into touch, the away side attacked from the base of the
five-metre scrum. After several drives, the ball went loose and Benji
Ritson unfortunately knocked the ball on over the line in the act of
scoring, after a difficult bounce.
After Jack Cole was taken out in the air, the penalty in the Drybrook
twenty-two was followed up by good phases and then Cole crossed for
Bridgnorth’s second try. The conversion was missed before but the away
side kept the pressure on and another penalty for Bridgnorth was
kicked by Murphy for three points to level the scores at 15-15. A
period of ‘kick-tennis’ was followed up with more possession drives by
Bridgnorth. The Drybrook tackling remained resolute however and the
away side were struggling to cross the opposition twenty-two-metre
line. The away-side’s patience was commendable as player after player
(with Loti Molitika to the fore) took the ball on. Replacement
scrum-half Gareth Bladen came on to marshal proceedings in what was
his 450th first team appearance. New prop Ace made good ground before
his colleague Tomkinson burrowed over the line with the ball for a
converted try and a seven-point lead going into the final period.
Drybrook played out the remainder of the game in the Bridgnorth half
as the referee’s decisions went increasingly against Bridgnorth. The
home side’s scrummage established supremacy and as Drybrook launched
several attacks on the tryline, Ed Taylor received a second yellow
card and an automatic red for a reckless offence at a ruck. This
allowed Drybrook to apply yet more pressure in the forwards and the
game ended (after a long period of overtime with several penalty
advantages to the home side) when the referee awarded Drybrook a
penalty try as the exhausted Bridgnorth forwards could no longer
withstand the pressure of the opposition scrum. The game ended with
the score at 22-22 and, after coming from behind, the Drybrook players
celebrated more at the final whistle.
Although the Bridgnorth players were understandably frustrated and
disappointed after the game, they should be wholeheartedly
congratulated on a herculean effort and coming away with the draw.
There were many tired bodies on the pitch after three very physical
games and the players have a rest week before the home game against
Bromsgrove on the 4th October.
