LYDNEY 10 TROWBRIDGE 38

This was Trowbridge’s first competitive venture over the Severn Bridge and also their first away match at this level. They were without regular kicker Tom Weaver who was at a wedding abroad and full back Alex Kilbane moved from full back to fly half. In the first ten minutes last week’s man of the match Kyle Oakley had to retire with cuts and new flanker Harry Fraser made his first start. The heavy Lydney pace exerted physical presence at the outset and this continued through the match. the Trowbridge defence held firm and took the lead after nine minutes when fullback Jack Connor finished a series of attacks by crossing the whitewash. Alex Christopher deputising for Weaver converted. The hosts responded with a try at 18 minutes when their forwards pressed near the Trowbridge line. Trowbridge desperately defended but Lydney’s immense tight head prop Nick Selway forced his way over. Trowbridge backs played some good open rugby and scored again as the interval approached. Kacey Pike finished a period when the visitors were dominant by scoring a try converted by Christopher. The teams changed ends with the Wiltshire side in the lead by 14-5, but the game was well in the balance.

The Trowbridge side continued to disrupt the Lydney efforts. This frustrated them and they started to complain to the referee. Trowbridge simply continued to play the game and gain as a result. Connor broke the deadlock as half through the second half when Connor broke through for a second try, again Christopher converted and the score was 21-5 to the visitors, before a Lydney replacement was red carded after punch on Kilbane after 23 minutes of the half. The course of the match had clearly moved in Trowbridge’s favour. They scored two more converted tries from wing Oakley Milton and Flanker Ben Mallett in the later stages but Lydney also broke away to score a try with centre George Gladding making the touchdown. Christopher completed both of Trowbridge’s conversions and to rub salt in the wound he opted to kick a penalty in the last minute to run the clock down.

This completed an unlikely win in front of the Lydney supporters who had been silenced during most of the exchanges. We will look forward to hosting the Severnside side when they make their first visit to Doric Park in the new year. As a result, Trowbridge find themselves at the head of the table two points ahead of the field, but they will no doubt be aware of the dangers of being complacent as they face all of the other west county opponents, most of whom they have never played before, in the next few matches. Wiltshire neighbours Royal Wootton Bassett lead the chasing group after defeating St Austell and this will add spice to their match when they meet later in October.