‘Leaders in top form defeat Lydney’
Report and Pictures by Roger Pike
Devonport Services 40 v Lydney 16
Another long trip down into Devon saw Lydney face a tough task against league leaders Devonport Services writes Roger Pike. Due to the storms of this week the hosts ground was unplayable, so the fixture was moved to an artificial pitch in Devonport. Injuries continued to plague the small Lydney squad, Sam Arnott was forced into further changes, Jack Knox started at hooker, Tom Broady returned at scrum half with Aaron Esiri making his debut on the wing. The experienced Danny Hodge continued to lead the side with a new replacements bench of James Lane, Zak Williams and Jake Powles. The much-changed side and an artificial surface did not help the Lydney cause, but they gave it a real go in the first half, despite winning minimal scrum and line out ball were only seven points down at the break. However, a poor second half show saw the league leaders dominate, and they eventually ran out easy winners.
Lydney got off to the best possible start with a Charlie Beddis penalty after just two minutes, however the lead did not last long with Sam Brown replying with a penalty kick 3 – 3. Following a high tackle another Beddis kick drifted just wide. New signing Aaron Esiri looked dangerous with a couple of good runs. The hosts soon started to dominate but some solid defence from Heaven, Price and Frowen kept the score unchanged. With the visitors scrum and lineout not functioning the hosts were gifted plenty of possession, a good backs move saw Charlie Groves score in the corner 8 – 3. The game continued in a similar pattern and the hosts scored again with Brown touching down in the corner to extend the lead 13 – 3. When a cross kick from Goldsby-west was collected by Toby Knowles the score moved onto 20 – 3 with the conversion added and it looked a long afternoon for the visitors. However, when a good carry from Jack Knox was recycled a superb break from the impressive Beddis saw him cut clean through the defence to score in the corner 20 – 8. The visitors were still not done and a good break from Esiri saw the ball spun out to the opposite wing where Tom Rowe showed real class to beat three defenders and scored out wide for 20 – 13 at halftime.
Lydney had a great start to the second half with some good runs from wingers Esiri and Rowe gave them a couple of good scoring chances but were unfortunately not taken. A solid forward drive from Hanslow, Bonia and Searls won a penalty which Beddis knocked over 20 – 16. The visitors then again struggled with the line out in particular gifting possession away, only a couple of great tackles from Heaven and Rowe stopped a score but the hosts soon crossed for 25 – 16. Lydney needing two tries to get anything from the game made a mistake in attack which the hosts punished with another cross-field kick to Knowles for 30 – 16. With a yellow card for both sides Broady left the field, the visitors were forced to take off Heaven to bring on Powels at scrum half. With another scrum penalty the hosts opt to kick and get over two scores clear 33 – 16. Devonport continued to dominate the last few minutes and scored a final try to end the game 40 – 16. So, another disappointing performance for Lydney, they need to get some of their more experienced players back from injury and look to end the season with the performances that started the season to target a top four finish.
Director of Rugby Sam Arnott commented ‘A tough afternoon against a top side, that was not a good display from us, the lineout and scrum were poor, but we stuck at it to be just four points down early in the second half. However, a couple of missed opportunities cost us, then a poor 30 minutes followed that killed the game and the final result was not a fair reflection of our efforts. Next week we are again back in Devon to play our postponed fixture against Sidmouth, so another tough game awaits.’
Lydney – Alfie Searles, Jack Knox, James Bonia, Danny Hodge©, Jack Cuthbert, Harvey Heaven, Kyle Frowen, Pat Hanslow, Jake Powles, Charlie Beddis, Tom Rowe, Joe Hamlin, Danny Price, Aaron Esiri, Alex Nelmes. Replacements, James Lane, Zak Williams, Jake Powles.
