I don’t think anyone expected it to be an easy match having lost to them twice last season, but we won in the end and kept our 100% home win record.
Not having seen the match I get the feeling that the real winner for us was the quality of the defence, if you can score a couple of tries then defend well it can only be good.
By half time the lead had changed hands a couple of times after Lydney had opened the scoring with a penalty in the first minute from the boot to Tony Wicks.
Sam Bennett and the forwards took back the lead with a strong maul that Lydney were unable to cope with. The Richard West conversion sailed over.
Lydney came back and got into our twenty-two and a pass out to 2nd row Jake Bonsor saw him break the defence to score and take the lead for the visitors. 7~8.
On thirty minutes Richard West kicked a penalty to retake the lead and make it 10~8.
With half time nearly upon The Rectory, Sam Bennett and the forwards repeated their earlier efforts to score his second try that Richard West converted. 17~8.

After the restart another Richard West penalty took us to a decent lead at 20~8.
At that point we should have put Lydney back in their box and thrown away the key.
However, they were not down and added a second try at the hand of Jake Bonser to close the gap to 20~13.
For the last twenty minutes we were under considerable pressure, at one point Lydney drove over but were held up and a couple of times they were penalised for dropping scrums in our twenty-two.
As it was the hours of training paid off and fitness and determined tackling prevented them from at the very least getting a draw. They did pick up a losing bonus point.
It was fortunate that they did not convert either of their tries otherwise the last quarter would have been a bit squeaky.
The win keeps us on top of the table.

Next weekend. 1sts - Newent away, for the 2nds - Brixham II away, the 3s play Argaum at home and the colts Teignmouth home.

The team.
1. Joe Daley
2. Sam Bennett (sponsored by AS Plumbing Heating and Renewables Ltd)
3. Jason Stead
4. James McQuillan (sponsored by Tamar Coaches)
5. John Kirwan
6. Andy Pond (sponsored by Steak and Omelette)
7. Liam Jarvis (sponsored by Cutec Ltd)
8. Mark Friend (sponsored by the Carpet Centre)
9. Dylan Daley (sponsored by JCD Electrical)
10. Richard Goldsby-West (sponsored by South Hams Brewery)
11. Corey Jamieson (sponsored by Pro Build South West Ltd)
12. Alex Mawdsley
13. Tom Goodman (sponsored by Kitworld)
14. Kyle Browne (sponsored by The Greedy Goose)
15. Rhys Williams

16. Seb Tooke
17. Tyler Busfield (sponsored by Barton Garages Ltd)
18. Jake Inglis