Western Counties North

Stroud 28

Drybrook 3

NOTHING went right for Drybrook in this league encounter at Fromehall Park.

Not only did they slip to an unexpectedly large defeat, but they also lost skipper Neil Morgan (pictured) to a career threatening injury.

Stroud looked sharp right from the start and went in front with a converted try and a couple of penalties.

Drybrook, who could do little right in the eyes of the referee, slotted a 14th minute penalty through Aiden Price.

Stroud gave the visitors a hard time at the scrums and increased their lead to 16-3 with another penalty.

From the restart, Drybrook's Neil Morgan took the ball into contact and sustained a dislocated hip. The referee blew for half-time as medical help was sought and proceedings held up for around 20 minutes.

In the second-half, Stroud stretched Drybrook with a long miss-pass and scrum-half Tom Treherne illegally took out his opposite number as the ball was chipped over his head. He got 10 minutes in the sin-bin.

Stroud seized the initiative with another try.

Drybrook had their best spell of the game and with Carl Moore at scrum-half almost scored a deserved try.

Moore burst through a gap from a line-out on the 10m line, but was unable to get his pass away.

Following another scuffle, Drybrook's Tom Reed was yellow carded.

Dean Large was held up just short of the home line as Drybrook continued to press.

A knock-on from Drybrook in the home 22 led to a bizarre score for the home side.

A loose ball was hacked down field and several defenders attempted to dive on it.

It was repeatedly spilled and fly-hacked forward.

Then a fight broke out as tempers boiled over.

The referee allowed play to continue and the ball was eventually hacked on again before being gathered near the Drybrook posts.

The successful conversion signalled the end of a game that Drybrook will want to forget.

Drybrook: Aiden Price, Ricky Darke, Carl Moore, Lee Ward, Jamie Roberts, Chris Rawlings, Tom Treherne, Scott Phelps, Ashley Howells, Tom Reed, Liam Jackson, Mitch Browning, Dan Price, Dean Large, Neil Morgan (capt). Reps: Steve Virgo, Chris White, Duncan Whatmore.

* DRYBROOK United lost 10-0 to Cheltenham Sabres in Merit League One.

Winger Colin Morgan went closest to scoring but was halted by a terrific cover tackle from his opposite number.

Mitch Bourne, Danny Griffiths and Sam Peaper were prominent for the home side.

* DRYBROOK Extras went down 13-11 to Old Cryptians A in Merit League Four. Impressive flanker Steve Adams scored Drybrook's only try with a spectacular solo effort. Andy Milner kicked two penalties.

Chris Parker, Dave Appleby and Tony Suter played well for the Foresters.