Drybrook 2nds - 23

After a titantic battle where the lead changed hands numerous times, it was Aaron Ryder’s drop goal, after 20 minutes of extra time, that separated the two teams and saw Ross win the Forest Combination Junior Cup for the first time.

Home advantage seemed to help Drybrook in the early stages and they were the first to settle, gaining the upper hand at the set piece which enabled them to get their big ball carriers into the game.

Initially the Ross defence held firm, but wave after wave of attacks saw Ross infringe, and Drybrook converted the penalty to go 3-0 up. With the scrums and lineouts not functioning well Ross struggled to get into the game and it was no surprise when Drybrook scored the first try after another series of attacks; the conversion was successful and Ross found themselves 10-0 down.

Ross’s heroic defence held firm for the rest of the half and a last ditch attack by Ross brought a penalty which Aaron converted and Ross went into the break 10-3 down.

It was crucial that Ross got the first score of the second half and they duly did; from a scrum in the Drybrook twenty two their eight broke from the back. They offloaded out of the tackle, but it was Aaron Ryder who reacted the quickest and intercepted, then ran unchallenged to score. He converted his own try to put Ross level at 10-10.

It was now a game of who could hold their nerve; Drybrook took the lead with another penalty, but Ross replied with the try of the match from a scrum on halfway. Number eight Gavin Oates broke right, popping the ball out of the tackle to scrum half Ben Element who drew the defence before a well timed pass found fullback Billy Hambling.

Billy then drew the last defender before delivering a perfect pass to Josh Morgan who had enough pace to run in the try from twenty two metres. Aaron added the two and Ross were ahead 17-13, with the clock running down it was Drybrook who got their second try, and after what seemed an age pounding the Ross line the referee adjudged they had grounded the ball under the posts and with a successful conversion they took a 20-17 lead.

As the game entered the last few minutes Ross launched one last assault; Drybrook infringed and Aaron converted the penalty, and at the final whistle the score was 20-20. It was now ten minutes each way of extra time to decide the destination of the cup. The first ten was very nervy; both sides added a penalty each and at the extra time break it was 23-23.

Drybrook continued to launch their big ball runners into the fray but time after time they were chopped down by a Ross defender. This heroic defence was the turning point; it was Ross that got the territory as Drybrook tired, and a well taken drop goal by Aaron Ryder was enough to settle the encounter. With the final whistle Ross had prevailed 26-23. The cup was presented to captain Casey Morgan and the celebrations extended into the small hours.