We are hiring! Please click here to join our growing magazine delivery team in Gloucestershire!

4. Leaflets Distributed with TLA

Newent standing in Drybrook’s way as they chase the South West One West title glory

Forest > Sport > Rugby Union

Author: Roger Jackson, Posted: Friday, 20th April 2018, 09:10

Drybrook take on Newent on Saturday knowing that a win will be enough to win South West One West Drybrook take on Newent on Saturday knowing that a win will be enough to win South West One West

One game to go, one win will do it.

Those are the simple facts staring Drybrook in the face as they look to clinch the South West One West title and with it promotion to South West Premier.

It sounds quite simple, doesn’t it… except that that final game is away to their fiercest rivals Newent, who would like nothing more than to spoil their party.

“Yes, we definitely won’t be giving them a free ride,” said Newent skipper Tom Webb, whose side are certain to finish the season in the top four and could still finish third.

“We’ve already beaten them once this season and we’d like to do the double over them.”

That win for Newent over Drybrook came on the first day of the season and since then Drybrook have won 23 of their 24 games – a run that has taken them two points clear of long-time leaders Exeter University, whose final game is at second-from-bottom Matson.

It’s a massive weekend for Drybrook, who are celebrating their 125th anniversary, and chairman Chris Rawlings, a long-serving former player, said: “It has to be the biggest league game in our history.

“It will be a real humdinger. It’s massive for us because if we win we will be playing at a level we’ve never played at before and that’s not bad for a village club like us!”

Should Drybrook fall at the final hurdle they will at least have the consolation of knowing that they could still be playing in South West Premier next season because the runners-up will play the runners-up in South West One East – likely to be Banbury – for the final promotion spot.

Not that Drybrook are thinking that way of course.

“If we play like I know we can we’ve got a great chance,” added Rawlings, “but they’ll be a tough nut to crack.

“It’s a great game for the neutral but I’d have liked an easier game to finish. Having said that you’ve got to play every side twice to win the league.”

And the two teams could yet meet for a third time this season on Sunday 6th May – the date of this year’s Forest of Dean Combination Cup final. Drybrook are already in the final and they are awaiting the winners of the tie between Newent and Cinderford United.

Copyright © 2024 The Local Answer Limited.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to The Local Answer Limited and thelocalanswer.co.uk with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

More articles you may be interested in...

The Local Answer. Advertise to more people in Gloucestershire
The Local Answer. More magazines through Gloucestershire doors

© 2024 The Local Answer Limited - Registered in England and Wales - Company No. 06929408
Unit H, Churchill Industrial Estate, Churchill Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL53 7EG - VAT Registration No. 975613000

Privacy Policy