Sat 26 Nov 2022
Despite the atrocious weather that was forecast (& duly arrived) and the wet and muddy underfoot conditions, both teams served up a really compelling game of rugby with frequent momentum swings and a 50 point game. At the end of the contest the away team came up with the spoils and the CABs had to rely on a very late penalty to gain a losing bonus point. Before the game kicked off, the CABs were already on the back foot with late withdrawals of both starting named props and by 20 minutes in they had lost hooker Fred Bulut and winger Archie Dinnis to injury.
The game was always going to be an attritional, tactical battle with conditions forcing the pattern and play. The key message, before the game, was to not give Lydney easy ball (minimise penalties, especially rolling away at the breakdown, offside and holding onto the ball in the tackle) and thereby control possession, tempo and territory. It was also crucial that any kind of significant lead (greater than 7 points) would also be very influential. So, after 20 minutes and facing a 0-14 deficit, following some good phase play and identifying the gap in defence (allied to some frustrating ill-discipline) it was proper backs to the wall stuff. As we know from previous games this season and previous seasons, they never put the surrender white flag up and hit back immediately with Ryan Westren bursting through a massive gap in the Lydney defence and dotting down (aided by a couple of defenders tripping over themselves). The conditions were worsening and Lydney had those advantages, so now it was a case of who could control the game; CABs to close the half out and go in no worse than 7 points, or Lydney and capitilise on the conditions. As the half wore on it looked like it would be the CABs; replacement props Alex Bartlett and Rhys Carpenter weren't just holding the scrum up well, but also prominent in the loose. Prop Mitch Hawken was hitting his targets in the lineout and the pack were ferocious in defence. However, a frustrating penalty enabled Lydney to get a foothold in the 22 and right on the stroke of half-time, a pick and go through the middle of the ruck enabled Lydney to restore their 14 point lead.
Half-time the key message was be much smarter at breakdown and get a really good kick-chase game (with the latter part the key aspect). The CABs started the half with a bang and multiple phases led to Brandon Rowley crashing over. The momentum was shifting to the CABs and excellent kicking from half-backs (Adam Collings and Glenn Coles) led to more pressure and Lydney cracking. A super kick-chase from Collings, followed up by a charge down and offload to Tom Sandercock and now the scores were 19-21 and at this point there was only one team forcing the play, winning collisions and penalties to maintain the pressure. Lydney, then made the tactical decision to bring on player-coach (Steve Arnott) at 9 and it proved to be a masterstroke as his nous and experience enabled Lydney to wrestle the momentum away. His kicking game, snipes from the base of the breakdown and a Lydney scrum that was now beginning to grab the initiative enabled that momentum to build a head of steam and Arnott scooted over the line to re-establish the lead to 19-28. Ten minutes left and the CABs needed two scores. Again, it was here where Lydney showed that extra bit of experience as they kept their discipline for the first part and kept the CABs at arms length until the final few frenetic moments. A yellow card and some desperate defence stopped the CABs from getting their fourth score and close the game to within two points. In the end, a last play penalty was opted for the easy three points and a losing bonus point. Not something the CABs set out for at the start of the game and like a few this season; a close loss. The CABs will check their injury/illness list and make the trip to Old Cents for another good Gloucester v Cornwall battle.
