North Petherton away match report

Report and Pictures by Roger Pike

Lydney travelled into Somerset looking to extend their winning run to six in a row, however the old saying a ‘win is a win’ summed up a poor performance by the Severnsiders writes Roger Pike. Lydney were far from their best lacking intensity and made numerous errors in a scrappy game but a late try from Henry Sleeman probably their best player on the day secured an unlikely win at the Beggars Brook ground in North Petherton. Lydney rang the changes due to more injuries giving a debut to scrum half Max Chapel, Olly Locke returned at Fly Half with Joe Hamlin moving into the centre, Mike Cross and Tom Cubit started on the wings. The hosts fielded a big pack and it was going to be a tough afternoon for the Lydney eight, it was this forward dominance plus the Lydney errors which evened up the sides and turned it into a close fought encounter.

Petherton started brightly immediately from the kick off recycling quick ball got them deep in the 22m and a forward drive saw hooker Sam Williams cross for 5 – 0 after just a few minutes play. This early score did little to spark Lydney and the hosts scored aging when full back Seb Roodt outpaced the defence for 10 – 0 after just 15 minutes. Lydney finally got some possession and a move with forwards and backs saw centre Henry Sleeman score only to be ruled out for a debateable knock on. Lydney soon got a penalty and kicked into the corner but lost Mars Slee to injury. Brad Kislingbury off the bench scored almost immediately from the line out via a forward drive. Joe Hamlin whose kicking was faultless all day knocked over the extras to get back in the game at 10 – 7. A couple of missed tackles saw Petherton back on the attack winning a penalty which Mitch Needham kicked to extend the hosts lead to 13 – 7. The Severnsiders responded from the kick off, regathering the ball some forward drives ended when Riley Scriven crashed through the remaining couple of defenders to score, Hamlin added the extras and Lydney were in front for the first time 13 – 14. This still failed to galvanise Lydney and the hosts immediately hit back from more errors, a good forward drive in the 22m saw hooker Williams get his second try for 18 – 14. Lydney were unlucky not to score on half time when a break from Mike Cross saw him offload to the impressive Brad Kislingbury who was tackled just short.

At the restart Lydney gave away a silly penalty which Needham kicked to extend the lead out to 21 – 14. The Severnsiders then produced their best move of the game, a great run from prop Costner Lane saw him offload in the tackle to Alex Nelmes who continued to make good yards finally passing to Mike Cross to score, Hamlin added the extras and the scores were all square. The game remained tight but the Petherton pack on top at the set piece won a penalty which Needham put wide from in front of the posts. A few handbags saw both sides lose a player to the bin, with Olly Locke off for Lydney and 14 aside. A further penalty kick was missed by the home side and the game remained scrappy but most play was still in the Lydney half. Scriven, Kislingbury and Jordan Folke were doing their best to create things upfront and Sleeman was proving dangerous every time he had the ball. The Severnsiders never gave up trying to run out of their own 22m area on numerous occasions. A break from Mike Cross on the 22m line saw him beat a couple of players and managed a good off load to Henry Sleeman on the halfway who beat the remaining defenders to score out wide. With Hamlin adding the extras Lydney managed out the last five minutes to win 21 – 28.