COLIN Henderson says Lydney’s opening day loss at Old Redcliffians serves as a ‘warning shot’ that the Severnsiders will have to be better if they are going to bounce back from last year’s relegation.

Lydney lost 13-7 away in their first National Three South West fixture, having been relegated from National Two South to the league they trumped with ease two seasons ago.

But Henderson insists the division is going to be harder this term and was disappointed with Lydney’s display on Saturday.

“We were poor,” he said.

“Lots of things went wrong really but we had enough possession and should have won it in the first half - but at the end of the day we didn’t.

“We all know what rugby is like and we didn’t deserve to win because we didn’t take our chances. These leagues are getting stronger and stronger.

“We will have to cast it to the back of our minds. It was sort of a warning shot across the boughs that this league will not be as easy for the side as it was two years ago.”