WITH two promoted sides clashing in the first match of Regional One South West this was always going to be a tight affair and so it proved with Devonport edging an even game, writes Roger Pike.

The Severnsiders played a spirited game and kept going for the full 80 minutes but it was a poor set piece and lack of line out ball that would prove their undoing seeing them starved of possession and limit their attacking opportunities.

Lydney welcomed some new signings in the pack – Gareth Winter and Shay O’Malley bolstered the props with captain Jack Spencer, Harrison Fowke switching to the hooker position.

New signing Phil Williams started with Riley Scriven and Mars Slee in the backrow.

In the backs, Tom Broady was at scrum-half following the retirement of Sam Arnott forming a new partnership with the returning Brad Barnes.

Liam Downer, Jack Knox and Winter started on the bench making up a strong-looking Lydney side.

The game was fairly even in the first quarter with both sides having opportunities but the match remained scoreless.

Lydney had the better of the possession with numerous attacks in the 22m area but never looked like breaking the away sides defence.

Devonport had their own attacking period winning a penalty which the reliable Richard Goldsby-West knocked over to lead 0-3.

The Severnsiders continued to press, winning a couple of kickable penalties but opting to kick for field position.

However, the hosts’ line-out and scrum was not functioning well and the visitors easily kept them out.

With 12 minutes left to the break, a good Devonport attack saw the ball spun wide at pace and Tom Richards crashed over wide out, the conversion added by Goldsby-West moved the score to 0 – 10.

The Severnsiders upped the pace to try and get a score before half time winning a penalty on the 22m line, this time outside half Brad Barnes knocked over the kick for a halftime score of 3-10.

The Severnsiders were out of the blocks following the half time team talk immediately regathering the kick off, with the forwards making good ground.

They won a penalty which Barnes immediately kicked to get the hosts back in the game at 6-10.

The following 10 minutes remained even until the visitors win another penalty, kicked by Goldsby-West for 6-13.

Devonport started to look the more dangerous with some slick handling keeping the hosts penned in their own half.

Good defence from McClean, Fowke and Scriven saw them revert to a drop goal attempt from Goldsby-West.

The Severnsiders were really struggling to get any momentum going and secure enough possession as a string of lost line outs and scrum infringements limited the home side’s attacks.

The turning point came with 20 minutes left  when Joe McClean was yellow carded for a high tackle and Devonport look full advantage against the 14 players.

From the penalty, the forwards drove over for Greg Thomas to touch down.

The conversion was missed but the game looked gone at 6-18.

Emptying their bench, Lydney tried hard to get some moves going with Jack Knox making some good drives.

McClean looked dangerous with some good breaks as did Cross and Sleeman on the wings.

It was the forwards, however who created a score with solid drives from Scriven, Fowke and Walter tackled just short.

Scrum half Tom Broady picked up and wriggled through the defence. Branes added the extras and Lydney were incredibly now just five points behind with five minutes left.

The Severnsiders piled on the pressure with a great effort from Sleeman brought back for a penalty but Devonport held out for a deserved win on the balance of play.

Head Coach Rhys Oakley commented: “Overall we certainly have a team to compete at this level, a disappointing opening performance our lineout and scrum were poor which limited our possession and attacking opportunities throughout the match.

“We will work hard on this in training and it’s my responsibility to put things right ready for our local derby away at Drybrook next week.”

Lydney: Shay O’Malley, Harrison Fowke, Jack Spencer (c), Mike Massey, James Walter, Phil Williams, Mars Slee, Riley Scriven, Tom Broady, Brad Barnes,  Joe Hamlin, Mike Cross, Joe McClean, Henry Sleeman, Alex Nelmes.

Replacements Jack Knox, Gareth Winter, Liam Downer.