Following a big win at Regentsholme in their last game a confident Lydney travelled to newly-promoted Wotton Bassett writes Roger Pike.

With both teams in the top four a close game was forecast however it was the visitors that claimed the win with a superb second half display scoring five tries to take all five points.

The Bledisloe Club however were missing key players with Brad Barnes, Henry Sleeman and Kyle Frowen all on the injured list. Arnott moved Jake Hanley to outside half and returning from injury both Brad Dunn and Alex Nelmes started.

Playing with the strong wind Lydney dominated the opening five minutes with some good forward play and the backs starting to breech the hosts defence through captain Ben Large.

Managing out a Wotton attack with some solid defence they moved downfield winning a penalty, Jake Hanley knocked over the kick for 0 -3.

The hosts replied with a strong attack winning a line out on the 5m line. From the lineout a good backs move breaks down when Broady knocks on an interception and was given a yellow card.

The hosts took full advantage of the 14 men when centre Scott Douglas cut through to score, Rhys Floyd added the conversion for 7-3.

The visitors responded from the kick-off winning a penalty just inside the hosts half, using the strong wind Hanley kicked for 7-6.

Lydney then had a good spell with some good breaks from Large and Rielly Scriven who gave another superb display. Following a brawl with the forwards the official yellow carded both props for 14 aside. James Bonia came on as prop replacement and put in a solid performance in his spell.

The hosts piled on the pressure kicking to the corner winning a couple of penalties, but the solid Lydney defence kept them out, however from the next move Alex Nelmes picked up a yellow and they are down to 13.

With two players down the visitors still looked the more dangerous, moving back up field following a Scriven break they won a penalty kicked by Hanley for 7 -9. Hanley did have another penalty kick that went narrowly wide to end the half 7-9.

With Louis Jayne injured early on Kurt Brown came on and the visitors started to get some real dominance. A superb Lydney attack saw the ball spun across the backline only to see the final scoring pass intercepted and Charlie Brook ran the length of the pitch to score against the run of play 14 – 9.

Lydney however stuck with their game plan and were soon back on the attack, a break from Harrison saw them on the 22m, with the ball spun out wide Alex Nelmes joined the line to score out wide to level the scores.

The hosts responded from the restart winning a penalty to get the lead back 17 -14.

The hosts were then demolished in the remaining 30 minutes, the Lydney scrum totally dominated, and they looked much the fitter around the park. Following a rare Wotton attack in the Lydney 22m area the alert Tom Broady intercepted a pass to run the length of the pitch scoring out wide 17 -19.

Lydney attacked again from the restart the forwards drove into the hosts half, spinning the ball out a great move with Dunn and Nelmes exchanging passes twice saw Nelmes take the final pass to score out wide 17 -24.

Lydney then cross again following a Harrison break, but the unfortunate Mills was given held up.

From the drop out the visitors were back on the attack with good drives from Mullis, Massey and McGurk in the pack to end with Scriven crossing 17 -31. Cunliffe came off the bench and kept the intensity with another solid display.

With Hudson, Baker and Scriven putting in some big tackles the hosts were starting to struggle to make any ground. Winning the restart from the impressive Hanslow, Lydney start another attack, Dunn made huge yards into the hosts half again offloading to Nelmes in the tackle who scored in the corner, Hanley kick the conversion 17 -38.

Rowan Mullis was then unlucky not to score when the official gave a forward pass. The hosts did get a consolation try deep in injury time and the game ended 24 -38.

Head Coach Jarrard Hayler said: “Delighted a positive performance, we had a solid defensive display, and our scrum dominated throughout the game.

“A superb second half display against the wind saw us score some great tries to run out deserved winners. All the work in training is now showing on the field, overall, very pleased with the display from all 18, next week we are back at Regentsholme for the visit of Launceston, so another tough game with a side near the top of the table.’

Lydney – Rowan Mullis, Sam Baker, Gearard McGurk, Mike Massey, Pat Hanslow, Luke Hudson, Louis Jayne, Rielly Scriven, Tom Broady, Jake Hanley, Conal Mills, Ben Large©, Sam Harrison, Brad Dunn, Alex Nelmes. Replacements James Bonia, Kurt Brown, Mason Cunliffe.