National Two South

Lydney 35

Richmond 35

BEFORE this game Lydney's players and coaches would have bitten your hand off for a five-try draw with the wealthy league leaders.

However, after leading 35-14 with 20 minutes to go the hosts probably felt aggrieved that they did not hold on for outright victory.

Lydney made a terrific start to the game, but Richmond looked dangerous with ball in hand. The tempo was frenetic at times, making it a great spectacle for the bumper crowd of more than 450.

Will Browne touched down for the visitors on six minutes, but Lydney struck back when Alan Bryan slipped a tackle and released Chris Holder for an equalising try, converted by Tony Wicks.

On 19 minutes, Fiori grabbed Richmond's second converted try from a 5m line-out, but Lydney responded with an excellent half-hour spell of rugby, scoring three tries in quick succession towards the end of the first half.

Tony Wicks scored two of those tries and converted all three.

Alan Bryan also scorched over after a Tom Chesters kick rebounded off a Lydney defender to put him in space.

Leading, 28-14 at half-time, Lydney were in dreamland.

It got even better for the hosts when winger Will Kane scored Lydney's fifth try of the afternoon two minutes after the restart. Wicks converted to take his personal points haul to 20.

Richmond rang the changes and their substitutes had an impact on the game.

Lydney were also hit by injuries, losing Chris Holder to a dislocated shoulder and having to finish the game with just 13 men on the pitch.

Richmond ran in three tries in 15 minutes through Thompson, Fiori and Browne, with Platt adding three conversions to level things up at 35-35 with eight minutes to play.

The momentum was with Richmond as they set up another 5m line-out, but Lydney seized the throw-in to clear the danger.

In the last minute Richmond were penalised for coming round the side at a scrum but Wicks saw his kick from 48m slip wide of the post.

Lydney: Tony Wicks, Tai Lakabuka, Chris Holder, Alan Bryan, Will Kane, Josh Innes, Stewart Doust (Craig Jones 61), Nick Stoneman (Steve Price 65), Ben Lewis, Nick Selway, Jim McMahon (capt, James Bashford 65), Dave Bennett (Ross Webb 73), Tim Longton (Dave Emery 24), Will Jones, Paul Scott.