FOREST rugby derbies are all about upsets. This was definitely one as favourites Drybrook went weak at the knees and lost a penalty ridden shoot-out in a game which fell well short of expectations.
"We spoilt a good weekend for a lot of people," reflected Drybrook official Derek Trigg.
"The game disappointed a lot of people. Perhaps the occasion got to the players. Whatever it was neither team put on a very good performance. It was very flat," he said.
Trigg said the Drybrook boys were too often guilty of taking wrong options.
"We often tried to run the ball out of defence instead of kicking for the corners and there were mistakes galore," he said.
In the end it boiled down to a penalty shoot-out - and there were plenty on offer.
Aaron Ryder kicked five for Berry Hill with Lee Osborne adding a drop goal. For Drybrook Tom Treherne kicked three.
The absence of tries reflected the lack of excitement, said Trigg.
However, he thought Berry Hill deserved the win and planned things well. They left their arrival late, coach Julian Horrobin warming his team up on their own ground before making the short journey to Drybrook only 30 minutes before kick-off.
And they targeted key Drybrook play-maker, scrum-half Carl Moore who was virtually marked out of the game.
"Credit to Lee Osborne. He used all his experience at outside-half to run the show and keep us pegged down," said Trigg.
The result raised Berry Hill into seventh place and pushed Drybrook down to tenth.
Trigg believes both teams will enjoy comfortable midtable positions and says there is still much to play for.
"There is no team which particularly stands out from the others and its hard to see one emerging from the pack," he said.
Drybrook hope soon to have the services of influential captain and back-rower Neil Morgan who injured an ankle in a pre-season rugby tournament.
"He has been badly missed and his return will give us a greater sense of direction," said Trigg.