Severnsiders lose in thriller
Report and Pictures by Roger Pike
North Petherton 46 Lydney 35
Lydney travelled into Somerset looking to extend their winning run to 5 in a row, with both sides in promotion contention a tight game was forecast and so it proved in a thrilling encounter. The Severnsiders had a poor first half lacking intensity and were 31 – 14 down at the break which got worse in the second half at 41 – 14 but a spirited fight back saw them get to within a score in the second period and looking the likely winners. However chasing the elusive final score to win and cement an incredible comeback a mistake gifted the hosts a further score to seal the game.
Lydney fielded a strong line up with Joe McClean and Phil Cowburn forming an impressive centre partnership, in the pack young Jack Knox formed a pacey back row with Kurt Brown and Ryan Watling. The hosts fielded a huge pack and it was going to be a tough afternoon for the Lydney eight, it was this forward dominance that proved to give the hosts an edge. Petherton started brightly recycling quick ball at the breakdown saw an early try for Mike Stephens converted by Harry Auton after just 3 minutes. A high hanging restart kick was gathered by Captain Dave Bennet who broke through and ran in unopposed; Tony Wicks converted to get the Severnsiders level within 5 minutes. Petherton then started to use their big forwards and James Taylor scored for 12 – 7. The Severnsiders eventually started to get some possession and a good break by Ryan Watling saw him brought down inside the 22m zone but a good offload to Dave Bennet gave him score his second try, converted by Wicks the away side were in front 12 – 14. The wheels then came off for the Severnsiders, lacking perhaps some intensity in their play plus the hosts using their big driving forwards saw them ship try’s from Taylor and Griffith, plus another right on half time to go in at the break 34 – 14.
Things got worse at the start of the second half when the hosts scored again from Taylor, the game looked out of sight at 41 – 14 and a long afternoon looked insight for the Severnsiders. However the game then came alive with the Severnsiders finally getting their act together showing some real passion, a lose kick from the hosts was kicked back from Wicks and winger Mike Cross collected the ball running in under the posts, Wicks converted for 41 – 21. Lydney were now rampant after this score and on 50 minutes Mike Cross went over for his second try converted by Wicks for 41 – 28. It’s now one way traffic and Lydney score again through Ryan Watling, Wicks knocks over the extras for 41 – 35. Unfortunately for Severnsiders their play then became disrupted by a number of injuries, Jake Bonser and Kurt Brown left the field closely followed by a shoulder injury to Jack Knox. Playing with winger Tai Lakabuka and centre Joe McClean in the pack and a reshuffled back line really disrupted the Lydney rhythm but they still looked the likely winners. Moving into the last 10 minutes the Severnsiders dominated possession but good defence from the home side and perhaps a few wrong decisions saw the Severnsiders unable to get that elusive score. Looking in total command a mistake gifted the hosts possession and a good move sees them score to secure the win at 46 – 35. Lydney still had chances to get a further score in the closing stages but the hosts held firm.
Coach Lee Fortey commented ‘the game was lost in the first period where we lacked the intensity of previous weeks. Despite playing a bigger pack the forwards went well but we needed to play with more intensity and move them around. Our backs looked dangerous on every occasion but we lacked quick ball from the breakdown to create the space for scoring opportunities. I thought we showed real character in the second half, we gifted them an early score and got ourselves under pressure but we managed our way back into the game. The injuries did not help but with a bit more patience we should still have run out winners. We now have a real challenge to get the winning run and promotion back on track, we host Sidmouth next where we lost heavily earlier in the season so we need to put things right’.
