‘Battling Lydney lose in Devon.’
Report and Pictures by Roger Pike
Devonport Services 38 Lydney 18
With a risk of Regentsholme still being flooded Lydney reversed the fixture to ensure the home game was not lost and made the long trip down to Plymouth to play league leaders Devonport Services writes Roger Pike. The hosts having only lost three games all season would provide a stern test for the Severnsiders who are struggling on their travels this season but are a respectable sixth position in the table with their young side. Lydney with limited options for selection with injuries continuing made just a couple of changes with Kyle Frowen returning in the back row and Kiran Griffiths back in the centre, Alex Nelmes captained the side from full back. Facing a strong forward pack and given the conditions forecast a forward battle looked likely, so Sam Arnott and his coaching team had decided to select three forwards on the bench. The game proved an entertaining affair with the visitors giving the league leaders a tough afternoon and certainly had them worried at halftime. However, they are top of the table for a reason and showed this by punishing the few mistakes made by Lydney, scoring on each occasion to run out deserved winners.
Both sides were keen to make an impact and the opening encounters remained even. The hosts soon started to get field position, but good Lydney defence kept them scoreless. Winning a further penalty in front of the posts the hosts opted to kick and Matt Nyle gave them the lead 3 – 0. With 15 minutes gone Devonport remained camped in the Lydney half, a good attack sees the visitors turn the ball over on the 5m line, Mason Cunliffe launches a kick downfield which Brad Dunn hacked on collecting it on the 22m line, passing to Griffiths saw Alex Nelmes make the extra man to score out wide and they had the lead against the run of play 3 – 5. Devonport continued to remain in the Lydney half, but the defence remained solid, it took until the 30-minute mark for the next score when hooker Adrian Taylor crossed, Nyle added the extras for 10 – 5. Lydney were immediately back on the attack with some good moves finally winning a penalty on the 22m line, Drew Roberts opted to kick and close the score to 10 – 8. The visitors then got a team yellow card for numerous penalties and Henry Sleeman was the unfortunate player to leave. The hosts took full advantage of playing 14 and kicked to the corner but the defence held solid. Winning the ball back Lydney kicked to clear their lines but missed touch and Harrison Connick ran it back through a disorganised defence to extend the lead, the conversion was added for 17 – 8. Back came Lydney right on halftime, they won another penalty, slotted by Roberts the half ended 17 – 11 with the visitors still very much in the game.
The hosts as expected made a fast start to the second half soon deep in the 22m area, from a line out saw Lydney collapse a maul and the official awarded a penalty try 24 – 11. Lydney then lost Drew Roberts to injury, with no back available Jack Knox moved to outside half as Lydney emptied their bench. The conditions then worsened dramatically with heavy rain and wind, but the visitors were still creating chances however the game changed when Riely Scriven was given a yellow card, and they were back to 14 which was always going to be tough ask in defence against the league leaders. Another penalty kick to the corner saw them drive over when Ty Busfield touched down, Nyle again added the extras 31 – 11. Lydney never gave up and came back strongly soon camped in the Devonport 22m area. Some surging drives from Cooper, Locke and Mullis were all halted short, Cunliffe eventually spun the ball out for Brad Dunn to score. Cunliffe added a great conversion out wide, and the visitors were still close to bonus point territory at 31 – 18. The last period was all Lydney, they had the hosts under serious pressure but could just not put a clinical move together against a strong defence, when an attack breaks down the hosts punish them with the final score to end the game 38 – 18. The scoreline did not reflect the visitors’ efforts and they were certainly competitive throughout; the young side will learn much from this encounter.
Director of Rugby Sam Arnott commented ‘Firstly I must compliment the players exceptional attitude throughout the game, and we had them really rattled in the first half. However they are top of the table for a reason and the few mistakes we made they punished us, a simple missed touch is criminal, and it gifted them a score. We were always in with a chance to get something from the game but just got a bit frantic trying to force a score. For sure the result flattered them, but we will learn our lessons as we move on to another tough game with Barnstable at Regentsholme next week.
Lydney: Gareth Winter, Sam Baker, Daniel Cooper, Louis Jayne, Pat Hanslow, Jack Knox, Kyle Frowen, Riely Scriven, Mason Cunliffe, Drew Roberts, Henry Sleeman, Kiran Griffiths, Brad Dunn, Conal Mills, Alex Nelmes ©. Replacements James Bayliss, Rowan Mullis, Lewis Locke.
