National Two South

Taunton 28

AFTER a couple of stuttering performances, Lydney raised their game to win this seven try thriller at Regentsholme.

The hosts trailed 12-0 after 10 minutes but fought back valiantly to sneak it in injury-time with a crucial penalty from Brett Turner.

Lydney winger Charlie Vine said: "We clicked and gave more of an 80 minute performance.

"We nearly threw it away, but Brett kept his nerve at the end.

"This was one of the games we really targeted this month, but Taunton are a good side.

"It's nice to play well against a top half side and it shows what we're capable of.

"We go to Canterbury this week and if we can play like that again, I fancy us."

Taunton scored wide out through Matt Newman in the third minute.

Five minutes later, a length of the field move was neatly finished off by Malcolm Hearn.

Turner and Yapp exchanged penalties, but Lydney hit back hard with a try from man of the match Will Jones.

Yapp slotted a 34th minute penalty, but Lydney fly-half Craig Jones touched down between the posts on the stroke of half-time – Turner's conversion cutting the deficit to 18-15 at the break.

Lydney brought on fresh legs for the second half, replacing James Bashford and Nick Selway with Jim McMahon and Leigh Green.

They went ahead on 46 minutes when Vine made a trademark break to the line, which Turner converted.

Two minutes later, fine work from Chris Holder set up a second try for the mercurial Craig Jones.

Taunton refused to give up and Alec Chase crashed over after a spell of pressure on the Lydney line.

Yapp converted, then knocked over a penalty eight minutes from time to give his side a slender one point advantage.

Lydney pounded the Taunton line in the final five minutes and got their chance to win the game with the last kick of the match.

Turner, who didn't have his greatest day with the boot, proved his worth when the chips were down.

Charlie Vine added: "I'd much rather play games like that in dry conditions and we've got a good pack who can adapt.

"They're not the biggest but they still push people around. I don't know how they do it."

Lydney: Tony Wicks, Chris Holder, Brett Turner, Josh Hannam, Charlie Vine, Craig Jones, Lee Thomas, Nick Stoneman, Ben Lewis, Nick Selway, James Bashford, Paul Scott, Tim Longton, Will Jones (capt), Matt Taylor.: Jim McMahon for James Bashford 41mins; Leigh Green for Nick Selway 41mins; Will Kane for Tony Wicks 58mins; Nick Selway for Nick Stoneman 75mins.