The Good Old Days

Lydney 1st XV 12 pts
Drybrook 1st XV 21pts

This was a billed as a pre-season friendly. Yeah right!
Anyone with any local knowledge of the game and the large crowd from all parts of the Forest knew that there was a little bit more spice to it than that.
If there was any doubt that Lydney would not be smarting from the fact that they would be playing a league lower than their visitors this season it was soon put to bed in the opening five minutes.
This is what rugby used to be about. A local mid-week derby under lights between two clubs battling for bragging rights.
At the end of the day Drybrook took the spoils, but certainly had to dig deep to come away with the victory.
With Regentsholm in perfect condition the home team kicked off down the slope, and the much anticipated “friendly” was underway.
Drybrook showed their intent from the off running the ball back at the opposition. Big hits from the Lydney forwards came flying in and Ian Morgan was forced from the field after only two minutes with a shoulder injury. Drybrook regrouped and Mitch Renton back from his summer vacation slotted into the second row. Early nerves and over eagerness cost Drybrook as handling errors mounted allowing Lydney to gain free possession of the ball.
Drybrook returned the ferocity in the tackle and already the crowd were hushed in admiration at the pace and commitment on show from both teams.
After a frantic opening Drybrook just began to get the upper hand, their forwards were carrying well and the backs were coming onto the ball at pace making life difficult for the Lydney defence.
They scored a deserved opening try after a sustained attack when Mitch Hale was on hand to power over. Tom Treherne showed that the seasonal break had not diminished his prowess as he stroked the ball between the uprights for the extra two points.

Lydney were battling hard but as yet had nothing to show for their effort and needed something to happen to bring them into the game. Just as it looked as though Drybrook were about to go in again a miss-directed pass saw the Lydney captain latch onto the ball and sprint away for what looked to be a certain try. To everyone’s surprise Kyle Frowen showed tremendous pace and effort to get back and haul the Lydney seven to the ground a couple of metres from the visitors line in what looked to be a text book tackle from behind.
The referee however from some distance back adjudged the tackle to be high and awarded the Lydney team a penalty seven point try to bring them back on level terms.
The home team’s tail was now wagging and with vociferous support from the touchline they began to exert growing pressure on their visitors. Drybrook were beginning to look a little flustered, the accuracy of their play was not up to its usual standard and a loss of concentration at the set piece cost them dear as just before the interval, after a series of penalties at the scrum, the Lydney number eight managed to force his way over just to the right of the posts.
The conversion attempt hardly gained altitude and the two points went begging.
The half-time whistle went with Lydney 12- 7 ahead and Drybrook with something to think about.

The second half started in much the same fashion as the first with both teams trying to wrestle the upper hand.
The squad at Drybrook is definitely looking stronger this season and the changes made by the Drybrook coach brought fresh impetus to the Drybrook attack.
It was the men in green who were looking stronger as the game progressed and the relentless assault from the Manning’s men brought dividends again as a break on the left looked to have given them another try in the corner.
Ex Drybrook player Alex Smailes who is now running the line for Lydney was adamant that

the Drybrook player had been tackled into touch.
The ref took his word on it then awarded a penalty try to Drybrook as the tackle was high and therefore illegal. Thanks to Alex’s intervention there was no need for the conversion and Drybrook were deservedly back in front.
The home team were visibly beginning to tire and good support play and telling breaks from Price and Baldwin were rewarded when influential centre and Captain Ben Large carved a gap and went through to the Lydney line. Despite a last gasp effort by the defence Large was close enough to place the ball over the line and with Stevenson successfully slotting the conversion Drybrook moved comfortably clear with ten minutes left to play.
The Lydney backs who had looked dangerous all evening tried their best to make inroads into the Drybrook half, but the resolve of the Drybrook defenders held them at bay and the game finished with Drybrook once more applying pressure before Lydney were able to force the ball carrier into touch.
The final score was 21-12 to Drybrook and a hard and well contested contest had been enjoyed by everyone.
The season’s now are dominated by the leagues and obviously this has to take precedence above all other things.
It is though, such a shame that there is hardly ever a game that ignites the senses such as a good old Forest derby. Oh the good old days.

Drive on Dry!