‘Lydney frozen out.’
Report and Pictures by Roger Pike
Lydney 18 Royal Wootton Bassett 25
Back a Regentsholme in freezing temperatures Lydney faced Royal Wootton Basset where a much need win was required, or they faced being drawn towards the wrong end of the table writes Roger Pike. Director of Rugy Sam Arnott made a couple of changes with young Charlie Beddis making his debut having come through the colt’s system. Having already won the away fixture the hosts hope of the double were gone when they conceded a try late on to lose a close game. The performance was much improved but gifting the visitors a couple of easy scores and then failing to take their own numerous chances were to prove the difference.
Playing towards the town Lydney were out of the blocks and dominated the opening encounters, an early break for winger Charlie Beddis got them into the 22m area. Following some excellent work from the forwards the hosts were awarded a penalty which Jake Hanley slotted for 3 – 0. However, when Lydney drop the ball in the freezing conditions the visitors move downfield with some good passing play. Following several forward drives Harry Daynes crossed, Reece Floyd added the conversion for 3 – 7. The hosts responded immediately winning a penalty which Hanley kicked 6 -7. The game was end to end and the visitors scored next winning a penalty in front of the posts, Floyd kicked for 6 -10. RWB had a good spell, with several penalties conceded the hosts got a yellow card for Sam Baker and Floyd kicked the penalty 6 -13. As expected, Lydney responded and won a penalty, this time Hanley put it just wide. With the game even coming to halftime the hosts receive another yellow and Grady Alford departs to leave them with thirteen. The visitors piled on the pressure with the extra men, but some solid defence saw the hosts hold out to the break.
With Arnott rallying his troops they dominated from the restart, a great run from winger Henry Sleeman gets them to the 22m line his offload to Alex Nelmes looked a certain try but the tackle when touching down saw a knock on and the visitors escaped. With a full side back Lydney started to dominate, another Sleeman break saw him stopped short but with the forwards on hand the impressive Pat Hanslow crossed, Hanley kicked a good conversion from out wide to tie the scores 13 – 13. Th hosts continued to dominate and were camped in the visitors 22m area. Winning numerous penalties, the hosts opted to scrum each time, when the visitors receive a yellow card, they were incredibly lucky to escape a penalty try. However, from the next scrum penalty Rielly Scriven picked up beating a couple of tackles scored a deserved try 18 -13. With all the momentum it looked like the hosts would now go on to win the game but the visitors had other ideas. Winning several penalties RWB were soon deep in the hosts 22m area, a kick to the corner saw a solid forward drive and hooker Mitch Gough scored 18 -18. The visitors continued their good spell and had further opportunities but some solid Lydney defence kept them out. With the impressive Scriven making some good breaks all afternoon, got another attack going from inside the hosts 22m, Sam Harrison made huge yards and offloaded to Sleeman who shipped wide to Alex Nelmes on the 22m line who was tackled crossing the whitewash for a knock on and the visitors escaped. With just five minutes left it was anyone’s game with end-to-end attacks however it was the visitors who finished the better when Sam Baker got a try and Floyd again converted to end the game 18 -25.
Director of Rugby Sam Arnott commented ‘If we are honest that was a win dropped, we gifted them two scores and then failed to take the opportunities we created, certainly two of those should have easily been converted. Overall, the performance was better but not at the levels we should and have been producing. There are no easy games in this league with everyone team competitive, we will work hard to put things right as next week we face another big challenge away at Launceston.’
Lydney – Garrett Myers, Sam Baker, James Bayliss, Louis Jayne, Pat Hanslow, Luke Hudson, Kyle Frowen, Rielly Scriven, Grady Alford, Jake Hanley, Charlie Beddis, Ben Large©, Sam Harrison, Henry Sleeman, Alex Nelmes. Replacements Alfie Searls, Drew Roberts, Mike Massey.
