‘New Year woe for Lydney’
Report and Pictures by Roger Pike
Sidmouth 42 Lydney 21
Lydney started 2025 with a trip into Devon to face Sidmouth, the last time the sides met at the Heydons Lane ground incredibly it ended in a 0 – 0 draw writes Roger Pike. However today was a different story with over sixty points scored, the majority for the hosts who were by far the better side. This was Lydney’s worst performance of the season and suffered a heavy defeat, they did have chances to get back into the game but numerous errors or conceding penalties stopped any momentum in their play and the hosts ran out comfortable winners.
It started all so brightly for Lydney as they scored within a minute, collecting the kick off saw a break from Rielly Scriven charge deep into the hosts 22m area, with a quick recycle winger Henry Sleeman is tackled just short, the forwards were on hand to recycle and Louis Jayne touched down. Jake Hanley added the conversion for 0 -7. Playing down the slope the hosts immediately mounted numerous attacks, and the visitors were conceding penalties but some solid defence from Hudson in particular kept them scoreless. Eventually the pressure told, the hosts moved the ball side to side, a gap soon came for Geroge Locke to cross, Jake Smith added the extras to level the scores. A promising Lydney attack followed but when the hosts turnover the ball Lewis Hole crossed for an easy score 12 -7. The hosts remained dominant and soon scored again through the powerful running of Shaun Malton; Rory O’Brien added the conversion 19 – 7. With halftime approaching Lydney got some good attacks through breaks from Harrison and Large but failed to cross the whitewash. The hosts back on the attack won a penalty which O’Brien slotted 22 -7. The visitors then received an unfortunate yellow card and Luke Hudson departed. A superb break from Garret Myers saw him stopped just short, some good drives from Sleeman and Bayliss saw the visitors camped on the hosts line but again failed to cross. Scriven then received a yellow card for a swinging arm to reduce the visitors to 13 as the half ended.
Mike Massey came out for the second half as the visitors were under major pressure with just 13 players, the hosts soon got some moves going to create space for an easy try out wide 27 -7. Even with Lydney back to full strength the hosts continued to dominate, and Harry Emmett scored, again the conversion added 34 – 7. The visitors did get some attacks going, winning a penalty they kicked to the corner, from a good Hanslow catch they drove over, and Kyle Frowen touched down. Hanley kicked a superb conversion against the wind out wide 34 – 14. With sixty minutes gone poor defence saw captain Tom Hodge cut through for an easy score 39 – 14. There were some plus points for Lydney, prop James Bayliss had a superb game with some good carries, Scriven and Huson especially were solid with numerous defensive tackles. Winning another penalty the visitors kicked to the corner, when centres Large and Harrison joined the drive they crossed again, Hanley added another good conversion 39 – 21. Lydney were now chasing a bonus point that seemed unlikely ten minutes previous. They certainly had chances following good breaks from Harrison and Ty Lewis, but final execution was poor, and the hosts cleared their lines. Kicking a penalty late on the hosts ran out deserved winners 42 -21.
Director of Rugby Sam Arnott commented ‘To be honest that’s our worst performance of the season, following a good win last time this performance was unacceptable. We did have chances to get back into the game and even get something from it but were poor in all areas today and the final score unfortunately does not lie. I will be looking for a big reaction next week to put things right as we host Royal Wooten Bassett at Regentsholme.’
Lydney – Garrett Myers, Jack Knox, James Bayliss, Louis Jayne, Pat Hanslow, Luke Hudson, Kyle Frowen, Rielly Scriven, Grady Alford, Jake Hanley, Henry Sleeman, Ben Large©, Sam Harrison, Ty Lewis, Alex Nelmes. Replacements James Lane, Sam Baker, Mike Massey.
