Old Patesians 31
Lydney 50
Old Patesians welcomed National Three South West champions Lydney to Everest Road and, despite being totally overwhelmed in the first half, a remarkable transformation in the second period allowed them to claim a vital bonus point in their efforts to claw themselves clear of the relegation zone.
Pats were again missing key players, in particular skipper James Stickland, Josh Stevens and James Pettigrew.
Without the meaty drive generated by these three heavyweights the scrummaging on their own head and feed was always under pressure.
The Lydney front row comprising the brothers, prop forwards Steve and Paul Price, and hooker Mike Wallis were in no mood to show any mercy.
After they destroyed the Pats first scrum and won a penalty lineout the catch and drive was clinically finished off with a try for Paul Price. Full-back Tony Wicks, who has already clocked up 220 points with his boot this season, converted from the touchline.
Lydney lineout kings, second row forwards James Roberts and Dave Bennett, were absolute bankers on their own ball with guaranteed possession while Pats skipper Nathan Riley and flanker Craig Ballinger both gave a good account of themselves with clean two-handed catches at the middle and tail from the much-improved throwing of hooker Rob White.
Lydney half-backs, fly-half Butch Holder and scrum-half Sam Arnott, are mischievous masters of their specific crafts and with the centre pairing of Dewi Scourfield and Josh Hamman and the pace of wings Tai Lacabuka and Jack O'Connell, Pats were handed their toughest examination of the current campaign.
Pats were playing up the infamous slope and a penalty lineout followed by a five-metre penalty scrum ended with a try for Steve Price and a conversion for Wicks.
Pats' fill-in fly-half James Butler, always up for a spot of rough and tumble, put in some good touch finds to alleviate the pressure but Lydney were bubbling with confidence and a blindside break from a set-piece gave O'Connell the opportunity to swoop in for a try between the uprights converted by the metronomic boot of Wicks.
A minute later Scourfield bullied and bashed his way through a hole in the midfield for a try which gave the visitors an early bonus point for the four-try haul.
Pats' misery at scrum time continued and again they were thrust up and shoved off their own feed. Lakabuka, with serious gas, sprinted the length of the pitch for a try with Wicks potting the conversion.
Pats had endured a tough half but their delightfully cheery scrum-half Joe Hoyle gave his side a glimmer of hope with an immaculately timed interception for a lung-busting burst and a try between the posts converted by Butler. Lydney led 33-7 at the break.
After the interval Pats kicked off down the hill and number eight George Angell caught and scragged the receiver and won a penalty lineout. A clean catch from Riley set up the drive and although the Pats forwards – younger and lighter – were crabbed across the field they managed to get the ball to wing Dan Burrows for a try in the bottom left-hand corner.
From the restart Pats secured another penalty lineout deep in the Lydney half and with Ballinger palming clean ball at the tail, Hoyle sent in Burrows for his second try.
Pats could smell blood and the sniff of an opportunity to take the scalp of their illustrious opponents but their hopes were soon dashed. The Lydney machine clicked up a couple gears and they ran in three tries with a pair for Hannam and a second for O'Connell. A conversion from Wicks gave the visitors their half century of points.
Pats were still looking fit and sharp and working to a pattern and replacement Aaron Ryan, lightly used because he was turning out for the County Under-20s the following day, used his pace, vision and strength for the Pats' fourth try and a bonus point. Pats finished the game in style. Angell, behind a crumbling scrum and almost upside down, flipped the ball through his legs and Burrows hit the line with pace and intent and racked up his hat-trick of tries with Butler adding the conversion.
Pats have two games left – Weston away and Amersham at home – but this bonus point against the runaway leaders should see them safe for another year competing in the National Leagues.
OLD PATESIANS: J Frost, R White, C Thompson, H Howe, N Riley, T Langton, C Ballinger, G Angell, J Hoyle, J Butler, J Fautley, J Aherne, D Burroes, G Hughes. Reps: A Ryan, W Tyler, M Peacey.
LYDNEY: P Price, M Wallis, S Price, J Roberts, D Bennett, B Scriven, M Boobyer, W Jones, S Arnott, C Holder, T Lakabuka, D Scourfield, J Hannam, J O'Connell, T Wicks. Reps: S Fisher, A Wheeler, M Taylor.
REFEREE: Simon Walker (Devon & Wilts).
STAR MEN: Lydney – T Lakabuka; Old Pats – D Burrows.
