Lydney edge out Cents to put end to run of defeats
LYDNEY ended their run of three successive Regional 1 South West defeats with a 20-14 win over Old Centralians.
The game proved a tight affair with the only points in the first period coming close to halftime with the Severnsiders scoring a couple of quick tries.
Cents rallied, getting back into the game thanks to a penalty try but the Severnsiders ran out winners in a thrilling second half.
The opening score came when Jake Hanley cut through the visitors’ back line, before a superb offload to Josh Hughes saw him run in under the posts, with Brad Barnes kicking the extras.
From the restart, Alex Nelmes fielded the ball deep in his 22m area and set off downfield, but was tackled just short of the halfway.
He offloaded to winger Henry Sleeman who brushed two tackles away, before a clever dummy saw him beat the last two defenders and score, Barnes adding the extras for a half-time score of 14-0.
Barnes added a penalty before Cents came back into the game as a series of quick tap restarts finally saw second row Lewis May score, converted by Harry Preece, to make it 17-7.
With the Severnsiders down to 14, the visitors remained on the attack. and more penalties saw another yellow card. Cents got close to the Lydney 22 when an off the ball tackle was deemed as a penalty try.
This set up a nervous final quarter, but a penalty from Barnes saw out the win for Lydney.
Ben Large and Bailey Watts scored tries for Drybrook as they lost 31-20 to Devonport Services, Tom Treherne kicking two conversions and two penalties.
Stow-on-the-wold suffered a second Regional 2 South Central defeat in a row, losing 29-21 to Tottonians at Oddington Road.
Sam Johnson made a stunning outside break and ran half the pitch to score under the sticks with Oli Clements converting to put the Unicorns 7-0 up, then Gus Hayward’s try, converted by Clements, made it 14-0.
Totts struck back with a well taken try, using their advantage from a rolling maul to drive over, and it was 14-14 at half-time when they went over from a penalty which they chose to scrum and take through two phases before a clever inside pass did the damage.
The visitors led 19-14 with a try from another penalty earned at scrum time before Hayward’s second try, converted by Clements, edged Stow 21-19 in front.
Both sides went down to 14 but Tottonians scored their fourth try during that period before adding a fifth.
Regional 2 Severn leaders Matson came from 12-7 down to come out 31-12 winners over Chippenham, Rhys Wasley (two), Aaron Morefield and Joe Stokes among their try scorers, Farrell Gwilliam adding three conversions.
Tries for Tom Harvey and Will Allenby, both converted by Harry Matthews, were not enough for Chosen Hill FP as they lost 15-14 at Keynsham, while Newent bounced back from their disappointing defeat at Trowbridge with a 31-10 bonus point victory over a skilful Cheltenham side.
Newent got off to a flying start with a try inside three minutes as Phil Middlemiss drove over from close range, Tom Webb converting. A high tackle then saw Webb increase the lead with a penalty.
Newent’s Will Hartland and Cheltenham full back Lewis Neal were yellow carded in separate incidents, the latter leading to a penalty which Webb kicked to the corner. Cheltenham were penalised for pulling down Newent’s maul but the hosts went again and Nathan Awford emerged with the try. Tom Webb added a fine conversion as Newent established a 17-0 lead at half-time.
The first incident of the second half saw Tom Webb and Cheltenham’s blindside Sam Attwooll yellow carded after a disagreement at a breakdown.
A couple of penalties gave Cheltenham position deep in Newent’s 22. Multiple phases were defended by the hosts but the Tigers eventually worked space for winger Flinn Roberts to cross in the left-hand corner. Craig Holder’s conversion attempt was off target.
Newent conjured a fine try to regain the initiative. Dan Fletcher’s grubber went into the path of Jacob Ivell, who kicked ahead and won the race to touch down. Another excellent conversion from Tom Webb took the score to 24-5.
Webb crossed beneath the posts for the bonus point try and his conversion made it 31-5 before Cheltenham were rewarded for their persistence when outside centre Simiji Marautaki crossed for their second try.
Counties 1 Western North leaders Cinderford United beat Clevedon 87-12. Henry Pearson, Mike Holden and Tom Samak all scored hat-tricks, with other tries from Harry Edwards, Dec Fissenden, Sam Baker and Matt Dickens, while Joe Langbridge kicked 11 conversions.
They lead Longlevens on points difference after the Griffins beat Nailsea & Backwell 50-12.
The first score was a Brad Wilkins penalty, followed by the first try, as Jack Beck went over, converted by Wilkins the first of six kicks for him.
The second try came from Steve Philips before a good catch and drive saw Wilkins move the ball to Jake Fox for a converted score.
The bonus point was wrapped up as Jack Cuthbert went in for another converted score, then Cam Jones was on hand to dot down for another converted try, making it 36-0 at half time.
Nailsea scored with a short-range pick and go before Tom Griffiths crossed for a converted score, making it 43-5. Nailsea fought back with another score before Fox sprinted clear for his second try.
Cheltenham North lost 53-33 at Chipping Sodbury despite two tries for Akuila Koroitamana and one for Maika Qauqau and Tadeo Matavutuka, Jade Latola kicking 13 points.
Gordon League scored six tries to beat Cirencester 40-20 and stay a point clear at the top of Counties 2 Gloucestershire North. Kian Badger and Stu Sysum scored twice alongside Calen Gaze and Dougie Chappell, Luke Mcmahon kicking five conversions, while Jack Woodley crossed twice for Cirencester and Ryan Brooks once, Jack Thorn adding a conversion and a penalty.
Smiths are a point behind after winning 38-12 at Old Richians, James Aherne (two), Pete Reed, Charles Peters, Ben Hawker and Sam Wilson scoring their tries, Marcus Raymond adding four conversions, while Richians’ tries came from Dan Collins and Nicky Godsall, Adam Wallace converting one.
Coney Hill are third after their game with Old Centralians II was abandoned due to a serious injury for a Cents player, and Brockworth edged out Spartans 16-10 to sit fourth.
Tries for Aaron Morris and Sam Birch, plus two penalties for James Dunn edged out the Red Ants, Marty Cummings scoring their try, Ashley Lewis adding a conversion and a penalty.
Jack Knight’s two tries, and one each for Alex Runciman, Patrick Hanslow, Charlie Dyke, Mickey Graves and Cliff Zeal saw Hucclecote to a 48-0 win over Cheltenham Saracens, Josh Mcgill kicking five conversions and Charlie Hurst a drop goal.
A fine second half from Old Cryptians saw them beat Ross-on-wye 38-13. Ross led 6-0 and 13-7 with a Casey Morgan try and a conversion and two penalties from Thai Hayward, but Dan Tyler (two), Zane Felix, Cam Findlay (two) and Ryan Preedy scored for Crypts, Dan Tyler adding four conversions.
Dursley came out 22-0 winners in their Counties 2 Gloucestershire South clash with Bream. Tries from Tom Jepps, Ollie Gorman and a first try for the club for Henry Scott, along with seven points from the boot of Charlie Davison sealed their win.
Aaron Ryder, with two tries, both of which he converted, scored all of Berry Hill’s points at Frampton Cotterell, but the Hillmen lost 54-14.
Drybrook II crashed 83-0 at Old Elizabethans, while Lydney United conceded their game at Dings Crusaders II.
Old Patesians beat Tewkesbury 38-12 keeps them a point clear in Counties 3 Gloucestershire North, setting up this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash with second-placed Gloucester Old Boys.
Archie Long fielded the ball from the kick off and Pats mobile pack rumbled up the middle and Long again found Josh Laurence who spun a pass wide to George Warley on halfway, his pace rounding the defence to score in the first minute.
Stealing a line out ball Will Sanderson charged up field swatting off defenders and from a maul close to the line loosehead prop Max Folkard powered over from short range for Pats’ second and Matt Parker’s length of the field break put Ollie Stephens in to make it 22-12 at half-time.
In the second half, another Lawrence miss pass found Warley in space for his second, converted by debutant scrum half Jack Donaldson.
The new half back pairing gelled well as Donaldson raced on to a Lawrence kick ahead, converting his own try.
Charlie Maker collected on the Tewkesbury 22, powering to the line twisting and muscling his way over for a remarkable individual try.
Tom Cane and Brandan Llewellyn scored for Tewkesbury, Tom Powell adding a conversion.
Two tries for Jamie Fairs and one each for Dom Chant, Niall Galvin and Paddy Hinds helped Gloucester Old Boys past Fairford 29-7, with a conversion each for Tig Galvin and Taylor Unett, Fairford’s try coming from Steve Wilkins, converted by Harri Cummings.
Stroud are third after beating Matson II 57-19. Jordan Phipps opened the scoing before a Matson penalty try, only for Sam Hester’s penalty to make it 8-7.
Another penalty try put Matson back ahead, but Hester scored and converted a try, and Matt Collins’ try and another Hester conversion made it 22-14 at the break.
Tries for Hester, Collins and Sam Leworthy, all converted by Hester, made it 43-14 before Callum Dunn crossed for Matson, but Ben Wilkes and Tommy Flanagan rounded off the win with tries converted by Hester.
Tanwa Hallen and Brad Stubbs scored two tries each for Bredon Star as they won 26-22 at Norton, Jack Dowdeswell converting three.
Widden Old Boys won 29-26 at Chosen Hill FP II thanks to Jude Donnelly with a hat-trick and tries for Olly Carr and Brendon Johnstone, Jordan Walker converting twice.
Three sides are level at the top of Counties 4 Gloucestershire North. Longlevens II lead on points difference after winning 20-13 at Greyhound, Will Kemmett scoring two tries and Ethan O’loughlin one, Zak Oliver converting one and adding a penalty.
Second-placed Painswick lost 21-17 at Old Patesians II, Neil Churchill scoring two tries and Chad Williams one, Dom Barnard adding a conversion.
Cheltenham II are third after their last-gasp 24-21 win over Cinderford III, whose tries came from Reuben Hinds (two) and Jake Hinds, with Jack Cook kicking three conversions.
Newent II won 28-12 at Ledbury II with tries from Josh Kell, Jack Carpenter, Sam Jackson and Jake Harkness.