‘Promising Season Fizzles Out for Lydney’
Report and Pictures by Roger Pike
Lydney 22 Exmouth 31
Lydney needed a win to finish a respectable sixth in the table, with Exmouth just a place below them a close match was predicted however it was the visitors who controlled the game against a lack lustre Lydney side to run out deserved winners writes Roger Pike. Lydney have used 38 players this season forced by a huge injury list, but it is a young side, and they will learn from this season’s experience, for sure the squad will improve and be a force to be reckoned with when the league restarts in September.
It was the hosts that started the stronger with some good early pressure when a Pat Hanslow break saw them into the 22m area. Some further drives from Cooper and Frowen were kept out by some good defence. With the ball on halfway it was spun out to the backs and Alex Nelmes cut through the defence to score in the corner for 5 – 0 after just five minutes. Lydney continued to dominate with some good play from Frowen, Hudson and Hanslow but could not create a clinical move. On just their first attack Exmouth saw forward back row Dave Bargent break the defence and score under the posts, George Meadows added the extras for 5 – 7 after 10 minutes. Lydney responded with some good breaks from Scriven, Cooper and Hanslow but the visitors defence was solid all afternoon. On a rare attack the visitors scored again when spinning the ball wide winger Ollie Turner scored for 5 – 12. Lydney tried to respond but a yellow card for Cooper sees Meadows kick the penalty to move the score on 5 – 15. The hosts were giving away numerous penalties so gifting Exmouth easy field position using the strong wind. Attacking in the 22m area Meadows opted to slot a drop goal 5 – 18. The pattern continued and another penalty sees Meadows kick this time from the 10m line for 5 – 21 which remained the halftime score.
Playing with the wind in the second half Lydney needed a big response to get back in the game, from the kick off a penalty sees them kick to the corner. A good Hanslow catch sees the forward drive and Sam Baker crashes over 10 – 21 and a comeback on. However, conceding a soft penalty from the restart Meadows again kicks to move the score on to 10 – 24. Lydney then created several attacks, but mistakes and lost line outs were costing any further scores. The visitors defence certainly took some credit for keeping out some major attacks and forcing numerous errors from Lydney. With Frowen winning some good turnover ball Lydney were back on the attack with a good break from Nelmes and Brad Dunn taking them deep into the 22m area, the forwards continue to drive and Scriven was stopped just short however O’Connell was on hand to pick up and dive over, Drew Roberts added the conversion for 17 – 24. Zak Williams came off the bench with some powerful runs and Lydney were now dominate with the visitors’ conceding penalties, a good backs move saw Henry Sleeman power through but tackled on the 22m line but a deft off load to Dunn saw him score out wide 22 – 24. However that was as close as it got for the hosts, despite spinning the ball around in the final minutes trying to create a score saw another error and Exmouth break trough with centre Headley tackled just short, Mills received a yellow card for the high tackle to leave the hosts with 14 for injury time. From the penalty James Clarke crossed under the posts, Meadows added the conversion for a final score of 22 – 31.
Director of Rugby Sam Arnott commented ‘That was a difficult afternoon and a totally unexpected performance. We were second best in every department and an unacceptable display in front of a huge crowd. To end a promising campaign with this performance will hurt over the summer break but we are a young side and will learn from the experience. I would like to add my personal thanks to our superb supporters who have stuck with us home and away, their support makes an enormous difference for us on and off the pitch.’
Lydney – Rowan Mullis, Sam Baker, Daniel Cooper, Pat Hanslow, Louis Jayne, Luke Hudson, Kyle Frowen, Reilly Scriven, Jack O’Connell Drew Roberts, Conal Mills, Kiran Griffiths, Henry Sleeman, Brad Dunn, Alex Nelmes © Replacements Gareth Winter, Kurt Brown, Zak Williams
