Tribute South West One West 

Drybrook 21-17 Newent 

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DRYBROOK closed the gap on Forest neighbours Newent despite a flurry of yellow cards. 

The Squirrels were twice down to 13 men but found the reserves to inflict Newent’s third defeat on the trot in recent weeks. 

Tim Stevenson missed with his first kick but landed a penalty on 18 minutes following an infringement at the back of a ruck. 

Newent levelled the score when Tom Webb got up from a late tackle to put over the penalty. 

The challenge on Webb earned Sam Peaper the first of Drybrook’s four yellow cards and another quickly followed as Will Greenway was carded for an illegal tackle as Newent again pressed. 

Webb put over the penalty and Drybrook had to dig deep when they were reduced to 13 following the departure of prop Elliott Beattie to injury. 

With the home side back to full strength, they began to exert pressure of their own and with time running down to the break, flanker Peaper went over. 

It took the referee some time to award the try which was converted by Stevenson. 

Early in the second half Webb reduced the deficit to a point with another penalty as the Newent scrum made its presence felt. 

Stevenson extended the lead from a penalty after a powerful driving maul but again Webb kept the visitors in it with a penalty to make it 13-12. 

Catch and drive became a favoured tactic for Drybrook  as Greenway and Joe Tingle dominated the line-out. 

Their confidence was underlined when they rejected a penalty  in front of the posts for a kick to the corner and although Newent rebuffed the attack, Stevenson eventually took the penalty. 

The move of the match came as the match entered the last quarter when Peaper picked up a dropped pass on 40 metres and exploited a gap to score his second try. 

With 10 minutes left Newent had a two-man advantage with replacement prop Brian Ncube and Stevenson both sent to the bin. 

Will Mansfield made it 21-17 with a try on the overlap and there followed eight minutes of injury time but with uncontested scrums in the gathering darkness, Newent’s most potent weapon was neutralised. 

Peaper  shared the man-of-the-match award with No 8 Joe Tingle who was back for his first game since September. 

Newent are fourth in the Tribute South West One West table, two points ahead of Drybrook who are one place lower.