‘Lydney win high scoring thriller.’
Report and Pictures by Roger Pike
Marlborough 22 v Lydney 43
Back on the road Lydney faced a tough game against Marlborough, this unique setting for a rugby pitch is played on ‘The Common’ and always a competitive fixture, even though this season Marlborough are in the relegation zone whilst Lydney are relatively safe in 6th writes Roger Pike. Sam Arnott has not had the luxury to field the same side all season and this fixture was no different with numerous changes, Alfie Searles was back at prop, Zax Williams started in the back row, Tom Broady resumed at scrum half, Joe Hamlin replaced Danny Price in the centre and captain Ben Large was fit to start. The replacements bench were James Lane, Ollie Wigman and Max Turner. The Marlborough pitch is a real leveller especially when the wind blows, however today for a change was a spring day and a firm pitch was ideal for quick open rugby. The hosts line up consisted of a huge pack with some real pace in the backs and are clearly better than their league position suggests. However, Lydney had a job to do and managed the game well to run out deserved winners in a high scoring game.
The hosts played down the slope and dominated the opening encounters, but the Lydney defence was well organised to negate numerous attacks. The visitors finally got an attack going with a superb break from Ben Large entering the hosts 22m area, with the forwards recycling the ball was spun out and Kyle Frowen out in the backs cut a brilliant line between the hosts centres to score, Charlie Beddis added the conversion 0 – 7. The hosts responded as expected with Lydney conceding numerous penalties could not clear their lines. Only a couple of tackles from Hodge and Cuthbert stopped a score but more pressure saw the hosts cross with Shane Van Wyk scoring out wide 5 – 7. Lydney responded well but were guilty of mistakes that cost scoring opportunities. Another attack from the hosts saw a brilliant tackle from Alex Nelmes stop a certain score. Further tackles again from Cuthbert, Heaven and Beddis kept the hosts out. A penalty kick from the hosts went wide and Lydney escaped, when the hosts attacked again they spun the ball out but Broady intercepted and a clever pass to Brad Dunn on his own 22m line saw him beat two defenders and run the length of the pitch to score under the posts, Beddis added the conversion 5 – 14. With halftime approaching the hosts scored again from their speedy backs when Akariva Seruviatu crossed 10 – 14. A key incident then followed when a dangerous tackle on Jack Knox forced him off and the Official correctly awarded a red card to leave the hosts with 14. Young James Lane came on as emergency hooker and was immediately in action when from the resulting lineout a catch and drive saw him touch down 10 – 19 for halftime.
Ollie Wigman was on for his debut and clearly looked a quality player against some big forwards; the hosts started the stronger winning numerous penalties which saw James Bonia pick up a yellow card. Another good attack with Rowe, Large and Dunn was denied a score from a knock on. The game went end to end and a host’s score was only stopped with an interception from the impressive Frowen got them back downfield. Another Lydney attack was spun out, and winger Tom Rowe looked destined to score but brought down by a high tackle, injured he was replaced by Max Turner. The visitors continued to make errors which stopped good scoring opportunities but finally a huge Broady kick to the corner saw Harvey Heaven set up a catch and drive with Frowen crossing for his second try, Beddis converted 10 – 26. The hosts responded immediately to be back in the game 15 – 26. Lydney then created a superb chance but when close to the line a pass was intercepted and the hosts scored 22 – 26 and a nervous end for the supporters. From the restart a good Lydney attack saw Beddis break with a clever chip over the defence he touched down and added the conversion to settle the nerves 22 – 33. Another attack with Nelmes, Beddis and Heaven won a penalty which Large opted for Beddis to kick 22 – 36. Lydney dominated the closing encounters, a superb break saw Nelmes clean through to score was only stopped by an illegal tackle which gave the official no option but award a penalty try 22 – 43 which was the final score.
Director of Rugby Sam Arnott commented ‘Job done and 5 points, it was a tricky game they are a big side, very undisciplined in their play so difficult to play against but thought we got better as the game went on and ran out deserved winners, next week is our final home league fixture where we face Sidmouth.’
Lydney – Alfie Searles, Jack Knox, James Bonia, Danny Hodge, Jack Cuthbert, Harvey Heaven, Kyle Frowen, Zak Williams, Tom Broady, Charlie Beddis, Tom Rowe, Ben Large ©, Joe Hamlin, Brad Dunn, Alex Nelmes. Replacements, James Lane, Ollie Wigman, Max Turner.
