Severnsiders lost in the Valley
Report and Pictures by Roger Pike
Chew Valley 24 Lydney 12
With the hosts topping the table and Lydney on a nine match unbeaten run in third, a tight game was expected and so it proved writes Roger Pike. With tough conditions of wind and heavy rain it was Chew who managed them much the better and ran out deserved winners with a good second half performance. The Severnsiders were much the better side in the first half and another win looked on the cards but a poor second half saw the game get away. Realistically Lydney will now need to beat St Austell and Devonport Services away to have any chance of winning the league. The Severnsiders had a few changes with Jack Spencer unavailable James Pugh started in the front row, Mike Massey was back in the second row and Henry Sleeman returned on the wing. On the bench Lydney opted for forwards only with John Barker, Rob White and the returning Coster Lane.
The opening encounters were quite even but Lydney started to concede penalties. With 6 penalties conceded in the first 10 minutes the next saw James Pugh sent to the bin and the visitors were down to fourteen. Despite numerous attacks Chew could not break down the Lydney defence and opted for a penalty kick which Tom Bryan slotted for 3 – 0 . Lydney regathered the kick off and rumbled up field with their first meaningful attack of the game. From a line out on the 22m line scrum half Sam Arnott whipped the ball out quickly to Wicks who set up a backline move for Joe McClean to go clean through the two Chew centres and score near the posts. With Wicks adding the extras Lydney had a deserved lead 3 – 7. Chew immediately responded and were on the attack in the visitors half but good defence which has been so solid in recent matches kept the hosts out. Lydney regained the ball and a good break put them on the attack only to be stopped by the host’s winger with a high tackle. A yellow card followed and Wicks kicked the penalty near the 22m line. A good recycle in midfield saw Arnott whipping the ball out to the blindside where winger Henry Sleeman cut through the backline, although tackled close to the line he was too strong for the defenders and touched down out wide for 3 – 12. The Severnsiders now started to control the game and looked far more dangerous in attack and further scores looked likely each time they had the ball. A good move on half time saw Joe McClean and Nathan Tucker both tackled short. Lydney forwards continued to batter away close to the line, Ashley Howell eventually touched the ball down only for the referee to give a penalty for a double movement of the ball and the half ended 3 – 12.
Chew started the second half strongly and got the ball back immediately from the kick off from a Lydney knock on. The Severnsiders never really recovered and some good Chew attacks saw full back Tom Bryan eventually cross out wide, converting his own try Chew were back in the game at 10 – 12. The visitors finally got an attack going and win a penalty just outside the 22m area, Wicks opted for the kick which sailed agonisingly wide. The hosts started to get some control managing the difficult conditions much the better. Lydney were struggling to secure their line out ball and also having a tough time in the scrum giving the hosts easy field position options. With some good touchline kicks the hosts soon had Lydney back in their 22m area. A move across the backline was only halted by a knock on and Lydney had a scrum to relieve the pressure. However Chew went for an eight man drive and pushed Lydney off the ball and over the line for an easy touch down, with the extras added they were now in front at 17 – 12. The Severnsiders responded getting good spells of possession but too often dropped the ball or made mistakes in the difficult conditions. They did win a couple of kickable penalties but opted for a kick to the corner option in an effort to get seven points. With the worsening conditions further attacking opportunities were spurned by mistakes and knock on’s given the hosts easy opportunities to clear their lines downfield. Into injury time the Severnsiders continued to chase the game but another attack broke down giving the hosts a chance to break out and score again to end the match 24 – 12.
Head Coach Dave Emery commented ‘I thought we managed the first half well, a tough start but got ourselves into the game and looked dangerous every time we attacked. We spurned a great opportunity on halftime but we still had a good lead. The second half was a disaster, after giving away an early score we just could not get into the game or manage the conditions. The knock on’s and line out issues stopped any momentum and you are not going to beat the top of the table side with this error count. We are back a Regentsholme next week to face Crediton so a good win is vital before our two away games at St Austell and Devonport ’.
Lydney – Harrison Fowke, Ashley Howell, James Pugh (c), Mike Massey, Jimmy Walter, Brad Kislingbury, Luke Hudson, Riley Scriven, Sam Arnott, Tony Wicks, Henry Sleeman, Joe Hamlin, Joe McClean, Nathan Tucker, Alex Nelmes. Replacements: Rob White, John Barker, Costner Lane.