Severnsiders win Welsh encounter
Report and Pictures by Roger Pike
Lydney 26 Dowlais 21
A good crowd turned out at Regentsholme on a glorious Saturday for this friendly fixture where Lydney welcomed Dowlais who play in WRU division 1 east. The Severnsiders again fielded a side of youth and experience with a few new signings making their debuts as this being the last chance for a squad workout before the serious league games start next Saturday.
The Severnsiders started the brighter and dominated the opening encounters but it was Dowlais who scored first with a breakaway try from Cameron Trowbridge converted for 0 – 7. The Severnsiders soon responded with winger Conal Mills crossing for a try which was converted by Nathan Tucker for 7 – 7. The home side continued to dominate the game with the visitors making a few errors with the Lydney defence line up fast. The continued pressure ended with a good move across the backs saw evergreen Tai Lakabuka beat the defence and cross for a converted try at 14 – 7. Back in the Dowlais 22 the Severnsiders forwards started to dominate, a good scrum on the 5 metre line saw big John Barker pick up from the base of the scrum and crash over for 19 – 7. The visitors were not giving up and still trying to attack at every opportunity however a knock on saw Lydney regain possession and a passing move with backs and forwards say prop Costner Lane cross the white wash which Tucker converted to stretch the lead to 26 – 7. The Severnsiders looked now to be coasting to the interval but a knock on gave the visitors the ball whose speedy backs worked a move for a good score and 26 – 14 at half time.
Lydney started the second half ringing some changes which interrupted their flow and the match became much more even. The visitors started to get back into the game playing constantly now in the Lydney half and on 72 minutes they got a deserved try to bring the score to 26 – 21. A nervous 10 minutes were to follow for the home supporters; Dowlais now had the ascendency and were hunting a further score. With the home side under pressure the defence was holding up well until a high tackle from Harry Brown saw him unluckily red carded where a similar tackle in the first period saw the Dowlais player with just a yellow. The visitors piled on the pressure but some foul play in the forwards saw the official hand out another red card which made it 14 a side. The crowd got behind the team and the Severnsiders managed out the final few minutes of a very entertaining game to win 26 – 21.
Coach Lee Fortey commented ‘this was a much better performance but we still have plenty to work on as our lineout and set piece went astray particularly in the second half. I am pleased with the squad we have, more players are due back over the next couple of weeks and also our new recruits will add more competition for the starting places and give us other options. We will need the selected 15 to be on their game next week as will be a tough starting game away at Keynsham but for sure a match we are well capable of winning’.