National League Two

Southend 10

HAVING to make wholesale team changes for such an important game must have had Lydney director of rugby Nick Bartlett tearing his hair out in the build-up to this match.

Alan Bryan, Dougie Freeman and Ben Taylor came into the side with plenty to prove, but all three had massive games.

Tai Lakabuka returned on the right wing with former Berry Hill man Kami Nakove handed a debut on the other wing.

Josh Innes, who celebrated his 18th birthday on Sunday, switched to fly-half and proved what a cool head he has on young shoulders.

Andrew Frost booted an opening penalty for Southend, but the dominant Lydney pack soon had the visitors' scrum reeling.

In the shadow of the Southend posts, they forced the away side to repeatedly infringe from offside positions.

The homecoming of scrum-half Sam Arnott certainly did not go to plan – he was sent to the sin-bin to cheers from the Lydney faithful – as the Severnsiders pounced to throw the ball wide, allowing Tony Wicks to feign a pass and dive over the line for an unconverted try.

Wicks extended the lead with a penalty, then hooker Ben Lewis forced his way over in the corner after another powerful Lydney maul. Wicks added a fine touchline conversion.

Sam Arnott returned to the field for Southend, but the visitors quickly found themselves back down to 14 men when hooker Nick Grier was yellow carded for stamping on Will Jones in a ruck.

Lydney turned around 15-3 up, but Southend put them under strong pressure early in the second half.

The home side conceded a penalty slap bang in front of their posts, but Southend kicked for the corner, then knocked-on at the ensuing line-out.

Wicks slotted another penalty, making amends for a poor drop-goal attempt minutes earlier, but Southend brought the game to life with a try from number eight Joel Van Der Molan after going through the phases.

Lydney's pack were in no mood to let this one slip from their grasp, but it was a terrific midfield break from Alan Bryan that enabled Wicks to boot his third penalty of the afternoon.

Lydney were also unlucky to have a charged down try from Josh Innes disallowed by the referee's assistant for a knock-on – after referee Nick Williams had originally awarded the score.

Lydney: Tony Wicks, Tai Lakabuka, Doug Freeman, Alan Bryan (Guy Wilson 77), Kami Nakove, Josh Innes, Dave Arnott, Steve Price, Ben Lewis, Nick Selway, Jimmy Roberts, Jim McMahon (capt), Tim Longton, Will Jones (Liam Trigg 77), Ben Taylor (Dave Emery 74). Reps not used: Matt Williams, Gary Coombes.