Pack power paves the way for Chew’s first win at Lydney

CHEW Valley won against Lydney at Regentsholm for the first time with a 20-17 success on Saturday.

The game lacked the quality the surroundings and history of this ground deserved.

Lydney started brightly with a try by their scrum-half after two minutes, converted by fly-half Joe Hamblin.

Chew hit back with No 8 Daniel Brooker crossing three minutes later. Full-back Zach Kavanagh converted.

The line-out proved productive for the Severnsiders all day, and slick ball allowed centre Tom Carbut to cross.

Chew scrum-half Jack Summers went to the sin-bin on 29 minutes for an offside offence, which gave Lydney the opportunity to put wing Mike Crossman in at the corner.

The Chew Valley pack had the ascendancy in the tight with veteran prop Jonny Eves putting in a monster shift due to an injury to fellow front rower Dean Brooker, but their normal flowing game was hampered by slow ball from the breakdown.

A Kavanagh penalty made it a two-point game at half-time.

An error-strewn second half meant the crowd did not see much flowing rugby.

Chew survived an early scare when a Lydney drive was held up over the line.

The decisive score came after flanker Ryan Stephens was binned on 55 minutes. A scrum five saw the hosts marched back over the line for Brooker to collect his second try.

A penalty miss by Hamblin close to the posts proved crucial. The Chew backs were guilty of butchering scoring opportunities late in the half when three-on-two overlaps were wasted on three occasions, so there was no bonus point for the visitors.

However, the whole pack can take pride in a battling performance.