‘Lydney edged out in thriller.’
Report and Pictures by Roger Pike
Lydney 22 Exmouth 27
Lydney faced a tricky looking match against Exmouth who had already beaten them earlier in the season writes Roger Pike. The Lydney nemesis of players missing at the business end of the season continued, with the pack looking a bit lightweight the big Exmouth pack dominated up front but the hosts put up a spirited performance and looked the likely winners when dominating the second half only to lose out with the scores level to a try deep into injury time when incredibly they only had eleven players on the pitch. Sam Arnott made just a couple of changes to his starting side with Brad Dunn back from injury and James Lane started in the front row. Rob White, Zak Williams and Aaron Esiri were the replacements.
Exmouth playing down the slope dominated the opening encounters but some solid Lydney defence from Frowen and Price kept them scoreless. However, winning a penalty they opted to scrum and the big pack drove over the line for Dave Bargent to score, Tom Cooke added the conversion 0 – 7. The hosts responded with a good move from Price and Dunn ended with an error and the visitors escaped. Back in the Lydney 22m area an overthrow saw Charlie Gibbings collect for a simple touch down 0 – 12. The hosts again responed well with Hanslow, Dunn and play maker Beddis setting up another good opportunity but not executed. Following a Broady yellow card the visitors took full advantage and scored again with a great line break from Adam Watts, Cooke added the conversion 0 – 19. It was critical the hosts scored next, following some good breaks from Knox and the impressive Cuthbert, the ball was spun across the backline and the ball found the unlikely second row Danny Hodge on the wing who crossed out wide 5 – 19. Exmouth had another spell of pressure, but the score remained unchanged at halftime.
Lydney were out of the blocks in the second half with a score from the kick off, Nelmes, Dunn and Danny Price made huge yards, the ball was recycled back to Price who scored in the corner 10 – 19. The hosts then had another couple of good chances to score, Esiri had a good run but a knock on stopped the scoring chance. Exmouth now under pressure won a penalty on the 22m line and opted to kick 10 – 22. The hosts were soon back on the attack but again a knock on ended the chance in the red zone. With another attack Bonia, Cuthbert and Price make huge ground, the ball was spun out to Brad Dunn who beat the defence to score in the corner 15 – 22 and game on. With 15 minutes left passions were high on both sides with the hosts conceding numerous penalties from the Official which kept the vistors in the game. A great Lydney attack saw Hamlin break the line, an offload to Dunn was moved to Nelmes and Beddis, the final pass back to Dunn saw him tackled in touch at the corner flag. From the line out the visitors overthrow and the industrious Jack Knox collects and powered over, with Beddis conversion added the match was level 22 – 22. With tensions high a mass brawl followed, from the result the Official decided to red card Cuthbert, yellow for Dunn and nothing for the visitors. Even with 13 Lydney looked on course to see out the game, Frowen, Price and Heaven were superb in defence all afternoon but deep into injury time the Official gave out more cards, a yellow to Hamlin, a follow up comment from Broady saw red and the hosts were down to 11 players. From the resulting penalty the visitors opted to scrum and got an easy score from Cooke to end the game 22 – 27.
So a disappointment for the large crowd when a draw was the minimum Lydney deserved, however some great positives with the lineout in the second half, young Harvey Heaven gave another superb performance and improving every game, Charlie Beddis was a real play maker looked dangerous every time he had the ball and eighteen year old prop James Lane deserved a mention for a huge performance against some top front row opposition and played well in the loose.
Director of Rugby Sam Arnott commented ‘Tough to take, the first half cost us with four great chances and only one taken. The second half we played some of our best rugby of the season and looked the likely winners but a sucker punch deep in injury time was so disappointing for our efforts. Next week we are back into Devon for another tough fixture away Sidmouth.’
Lydney – James Lane, Jack Knox, James Bonia, Danny Hodge©, Jack Cuthbert, Harvey Heaven, Kyle Frowen, Pat Hanslow, Tom Broady, Charlie Beddis, Tom Rowe, Joe Hamlin, Danny Price, Brad Dunn, Alex Nelmes. Replacements, Rob White, Zak Williams, Aaron Esiri.
