National Two South

FIVE tries inside half-an-hour wrapped things up for the impressive college students.

Gloucester winger Ian Clark showed blistering pace for two of those tries with scrum-half Dan Robson grabbing another.

Lydney skipper Jim McMahon says those two men were the difference between the teams.

He said: "If we could have stopped those two we might have had a chance, but it's hard to compete with Gloucester players.

"The scrum-half (Robson) was only released by Gloucester to play against us on Saturday morning.

"We were without our regular scrum-half Dave Arnott (on holiday) and we missed him."

Rob Langley and Seb Rodwell also scored early tries, with Robson adding three conversions to give the visitors a comfortable 31-7 lead by half-time.

Hartpury moved the ball around slickly in open play and repeatedly tore past Lydney's defence.

However, the hosts scored an interception try through winger Josh Hannam, who raced 60m to the line. Tony Wicks converted.

Lydney were much better in the second half and slowly got to grips with their opponents. They worked hard to stop Hartpury from throwing the ball wide to their danger men and their forwards bossed the set pieces.

Both sides scored one try apiece – Will Jones touching down for Lydney and Dan Robson for Hartpury. Wicks converted Lydney's effort.

Lydney also had a Steve Price try disallowed because the officials were unsighted.

This week, Lydney go to Richmond before ending the season at home to Barnes.

They know they are still in the thick of the relegation battle.

McMahon said: "Hopefully, Richmond will be wary of us and we can come back with a bonus point at least.

"When it's so tight you do think about all the decisions that have gone against you and the tight games you've lost through the season.

"It's all to play for, but we are definitely playing with more passion and more belief than we were a couple of months ago."

Lydney: Tony Wicks, Josh Hannam, Doug Freeman, Alan Bryan (Kami Nakove 55), Tai Lakabuka, Josh Innes (Curtis Russell 41), Will Kane (Matt Williams 67) , Steve Price (Lee Green 45), Ben Lewis, Nick Selway, Jimmy Roberts, Dave Bennett (Ashley Jennings 73), Tim Longton, Will Jones, Jim McMahon (capt).