Lydney win promotion clash thriller
Report and Pictures by Roger Pike
Thornbury 17 Lydney 18
Having not played since early December Lydney travelled to promotion chasing Thornbury to restart their season. Thornbury just one place above them in the table and themselves on a winning run it always to be a close encounter but it was the Severnsiders who prevailed writes Roger Pike in a truly thrilling game. The Severnsiders had a full squad to pick from but added new prop Jack Spencer to the bench to strengthen up the pack. In the backs Tony Wicks started at outside half and a new centre partnership of McClean and Ollie Locke with Henry Sleeman and Brad Dunn on the wings it looked an exciting backline. Up front James Pugh captained the side with James Walter and Mike Massey starting in the second row supported with a very mobile backrow of Brad Kislingbury, Jordan Fowke and Reilly Scriven.
The Severnsiders started much the brighter and dominated the opening encounters, a high tackle on McClean gave Wicks the chance of an early penalty for 0 – 3. Lydney were soon back on the attack from the restart, some good forward play gained territory into the hosts half, Sam Arnott fed the ball out for Wicks to break through only to be tackled just short, from the recycled breakdown Arnott crashed over near the posts and Wicks duly added the extras to extend the lead to 0 – 10 after just seven minutes. The game was then halted for a serious injury to a Thornbury player and the official took the players off the pitch. With the stricken player unable to be moved and needing the emergency services the official took the decision to move the game to the hosts training pitch. The break took some of the Severnsiders momentum and Thornbury started to get some possession soon winning a penalty which Jack Pinker kicked to get them back in the game at 3 – 10. Both teams then suffered a yellow card with McClean and the hosts Jake Wood in the bin. Lydney then created the move of the match, a pin point cross kick from Wicks was gathered by Alex Nelmes who manged a deft offload for Ollie Locke to score extending the lead to 3 – 15. Jack Spencer entered for his debut as Lydney rotated their front row options. The hosts had a period of possession just before half time with some good forward drives and eventually crossed the Lydney line, with Pinker kicking the conversion the half ended 10 – 15.
Thornbury started the second half strongly looking to get back in the game, the pressure was telling and the Severnsiders started to concede numerous penalties. The pressure eventually told when Sam Poustie crossed out wide and with the extras added the hosts had the lead 17 – 15. The hosts continued to press gaining territory from more Lydney penalties however the defence held firm and the hosts started to run out of ideas. With them spilling the ball Lydney had a rare attack and some good play saw them win a penalty just inside the halfway line. With the game close Wicks opted for the long distance kick which landed on the cross bar only to bounce the right side for Lydney to get the lead back at 17 – 18. Thornbury then mounted a series of attacks in the Lydney half but the defence was superb and never really looked like conceding. In the pack Klslingbury, Scriven, and Massey stopped any forward drives and McClean and Joe Hamlin were solid in the backline. Lydney then had a great chance to close the game out; following a big charge from James Walter the ball was spun out to Henry Sleeman who broke through the hosts defence only to be halted for a forward pass. The hosts never gave up but a knock on in injury time when deep inside the Lydney half saw Arnott kick the ball out and end a good afternoon’s work for a final score 17 – 18.
Director of Rugby Chris Green commented ‘delighted a superb away win at a tough venue, they are a good side and probably the best we have played this season. I thought we showed real character and a great attitude but most pleasing was our defence. It’s no fluke that this solid defensive platform ensures we come out on top in any close games. That’s seven in a row, we are back a Regentsholme next week to face an inform Bridgewater so need to be on our game to keep the run going ’.
Lydney – Harrison Fowke, Ashley Howell, James Pugh (c), Mike Massey, Jimmy Walter, Brad Kislingbury, Jordan Fowke, Riley Scriven, Sam Arnott, Tony Wicks, Ollie Locke, Joe McClean, Henry Sleeman, Brad Dunn, Alex Nelmes. Replacements: Jack Spencer, Luke Hudson, Joe Hamlin.