Lydney 2nd XV v Old Elizabethans 1st XV
8th March 2025

A big thank you to David Morgan for providing this Match Report.

Es travelled away to league 2nd from bottom Lydney, to face their 2nd team who we had beaten 74-7 in the home fixture in November. On the back of 10 wins on the bounce and very few changes to the starting lineup, could we be seeing a big score?

A point of note, these match reports are published by Malcolm Davies on the Elizabethan Society website, see https://qehelizabethansociety.com/news/sports for previous reports.

Lydney must have been expecting a bumper attendance, as crowd control was enforced along with a £3 entry fee and messrs Davies, Williams and Tobin were banished to the ‘away’ side of the pitch for demanding a discount on drinks in return for their entry fee!

Finally, a warm welcome to Alan Lunt, who has been on the sidelines throughout the season (normally when Ollie has been playing)!

1st XV SQUAD: Greg Foord, Jack Houlder, Conor McGrath, Tom Bendall, Matt Bailey, Will Tobin, Liam Bailey, George Burnie ©, Tom Cole, Mony Nash, Ollie Lunt, Alex Potts, Sam Brewer, Ted Bristow, Archie Joslin, Fergus Blyth, Callum McCarthy, Charlie Collar

MATCH REPORT:
Es got the game underway, on a very wide, flat, long pitch. From the sidelines it looked huge, would this suit our game and fitness? Lydney gathered and started lively, using the full width of the pitch, before being ushered into touch. A knock on by Es, scrum’ Lydney put in. Es steal the ball and Potts decides to run from midfield, feeding Brewer, for one of his trademark runs, busting tackles before feeding the long arm of the Bendall, for the first try. (0-5)

Lydney restart, kicking down the middle, then using the wide pitch to create a 3 on 1 overlap to score under the posts (7-5)

Lydney secure the kick off, but spill the ball from the ensuing maul, Es gather and the Lydney defence have their eyes on Brewer, who is a decoy for the miss pass and Tom Cole goes over in the corner. Not converted (7-10)

Lyndey, with the heavier pack, then keep the ball tight with a series of pick and drives to go over under the posts. Comments from the away stand “Lydney certainly not looking like they are 2nd from bottom!” (14-10)

Archie Joslin off Charlie Collar on.

Es are then pinned back in their own 22 and giving away penalties as well as being marched back 10 for not retreating. Lydney kick to the corner, but miss their jumper in the lineout, into the arms of (High Tower)Will Tobin, for Es to clear their lines. Es are then awarded a scrum in the middle of the pitch, but are shoved off their own ball, but in the confusion, Tom Cole wins back the ball, which is spun nicely along the backs for Teddy Bristow to go over in the corner (14-15)

Everything is starting to click for Es, the ball staying in hand and passes sticking. Saying that, Monty Nash, then puts in a long kick to the corner, which is regathered and after numerous pairs of hands, both Baileys, Burnie, Bristow, Collar, the ball is spun back to the middle and Brewer finds Shrek in the centre to go over from a distance (TBA)! Monty adding the extras. Half Time score (Lydney 14 - 22 Old Elizabethans).

Lydney make a lively start to the second half but kick the ball dead. The scrum midfield is disrupted and Conor and the Lydney no8, involved in ‘shenanigans’! The referee, who was marshalling firm but fair, put it down to handbags and the scrum reset. Es go back to their pre halftime tactics and secure good ball, recycled through the middle to Alex Potts, to Matt Bailey who delays his pass drawing his man, to put Ollie Lunt in, unopposed, under the posts. Charlie Collar slotting the extras (14-29)

Es then hit a purple patch, with Conor going over from a new 4 man lineout move, Collar converting (14-36).

Fergus Blythe on for Houlder. Tom Cole breaking from a scrum, supported by Sam Brewer, to pass inside for George Burnie to go in under the posts. Converted by Collar (14-43).

Tom Cole then bagged one for himself, showing a clean pair of heels from the 22. (14-48)

The final quarter was all Lydney, aided by Es giving away double figures in penalties, but no cards conceded, and the Blue Wall only breached once. Final score 21-48

A week off next week, before bottom side, Chipping Sodbury at home (22nd March).

FINAL SCORE: Lydney 21 – 48 Old Elizabethans

SCORERS:
Tries: Tom Bendall, Tom Cole (2), Ted Bristow, Sam Brewer, Ollie Lunt, Conor McGrath, George Burnie
Conversions: Mony Nash, Charlie Collar (3)

Full League Table and Fixture List below

Report by: David ‘ Morgs ’ Morgan

CLICK for the Old Elizabethans RFC website