LYDNEY team manager Dave Emery hopes the Severnsiders’ wounded troops will recover in time for a huge clash against high-flying South West Premier rivals Dings Crusaders.

Lydney earned a losing bonus point in their 27-20 defeat at Cleve with centre Phil Cowburn and prolific winger Reuben Haile touching down.

Fly-half Dave O’Hagan struck two conversions and two penalties while three players picked up injuries.

Brian Ncube suffered a dead leg while fellow prop Costner Lane sustained a back injury.

Lock Callum Thompson is also a doubt for the showdown against Dings at Regentsholme on Saturday having had a knock to his ribs.

“We conceded early on to go 7-0 down but we got back into the game well,” Emery said of the Cleve defeat.

“We were 17-10 up coming into half-time but we conceded another try to make it 17-17.

“We had a couple of decent opportunities and even chances to win the game.

“But we made a couple of basic errors like losing the ball in contact.

“We had a situation where they had an interception but knocked on and the referee ruled that it was accidental.

“It was frustrating at the end as we may have had the chance to get the draw.

“We are getting there. We had a good win against Camborne and I certainly felt we deserved more out of the game on Saturday than just a losing bonus point.

“We’ve got a big game against Dings who are top of the league and a good side – they wouldn’t be top if they weren’t.

“It’s as close a thing to a derby as we get in this league so it’s always a massive game.

“We had a good two weeks of training leading up to the Camborne game and hopefully they lads stick at it.

“We’re only 10 points behind Bracknell and if we can get a few wins together we’ll have caught up with the pack of six teams above us.

“At that point we can regroup and go again.”