Trowbridge welcomed Drybrook to Doric Park in this re arranged fixture after losing at the Forest of Dean club in September. The match began with the Doric Park side testing the visiting defence but unable to break through early on. It was not until half way through the first half that Second Row Connor McPherson, recalled to the starting line up, breached the Drybrook defence to open the scoring. Tom Weaver converted but soon after Drybrook skipper and No 8 Mitchell Bourne finished off a good Drybrook move with a try and full back Haydn Davies, a useful recruit from Hartpury College, converted. The visitors continued to dominate proceedings before the break and centre Mitchell Baldwin scored wide out to score with Davies converting, but Trowbridge were able to respond just before the break when Alex Murchison squeezed through a gap to level the scores and the interval score was 14 - 14.

The home side came out with intent in the second half and forced the pace for a time. They regained the lead when Rory Murchison went over from an attacking line out . Weaver converted but a period of Drybrook dominance followed after Connor McPherson made an ill advised attack on the Drybrook scrum half and was yellow carded. The referee then decided he was going to allow no further tackling at waist or higher level when he yellow carded Alex Murchison for a suspiciously high tackle where the Drybrook wing had lowered slightly and Trowbridge were down to 13 players.

When the match restarted Drybrook created a chance to level the scores and the scores were back at 21-21 with Baldwin scoring his second try and Lewis converting, but soon after Weaver restored the lead with another penalty. However, it was not long until a wayward kick ended with the ball in Drybrook hands and they were racing down the left. Baldwin scored in the corner and Lewis converted.

There was still time for heroics for Trowbridge to complete a victory and a forward drive at a scrum ended with Drybrook being forced backwards. Referee Stephen Walley penalised the dominant Trowbridge forwards and the chance was gone. There also a chance at the death when McPherson was breaking through the last man but he spilled the ball just short of the line and knocked on.

This performance was not as dominant for Trowbridge as it might appear. The teams were well matched and both sides were finding it difficult to gain the ascendancy. The result could have gone either way but it is a pity that the season could be potentially decided by a result such as this.

This result makes Trowbridge’s chance of promotion this season much more difficult to obtain, but I am sure they will want to challenge Chippenham in their return match as far as they are able.

Player of the match sponsored by Plumbase was awarded to Connor McPherson who make some excellent runs all through the game.

Next week Trowbridge travel to Witney who beat Keynsham 33-26 this week.

Head Coach Ali Lund reflected on the narrow defeat, saying, "The lads are really disappointed to find themselves on the wrong side of another tight game. That's the 3rd time this season we've lost a game by five points or fewer, and we need to improve our game management in those crucial moments. The coaches and senior players will be pushing the squad to keep progressing in the coming weeks. But credit to both teams for an entertaining contest - our matches with Drybrook are always a great battle."