LYDNEY 31 BARNES 33

A TOUCHLINE conversion from Warren Gower after an error from Craig Jones stole the victory points from Lydney who now find themselves being sucked into the National Two South relegation danger zone, writes Chris Wilson

Lydney came from behind to lead but were unable to hold on to their advantage and lost the points at the death.

It was a first half of contrasting styles, with the Severnsiders unable or unwilling to produce quick ball to trouble opponents who were content to defend at that pace and play on the counter.

Craig Jones missed an inviting penalty shot early on and Lydney soon found themselves two scores behind. James Adams escaped down the wing to score the first and Ciaran Smyth was driven over three minutes later.

Rob Sargent got Lydney's first points with a good try featuring key contributions from Paul Price and Matt Taylor before two penalties from Martin Knight had them in touch at 12-11.

Barnes began the second half well, despite having Dave Riley in the sin-bin, and Smyth was driven over for his second try converted by Gower.

Lydney made changes in the pack bringing on James Bashford and Steve Price and they made an impact.

The Barnes scrum was overpowered and Taylor touched down a ball that squirted out over the Barnes line. Knight converted.

Eight minutes later, Lydney took the lead through Will Jones.

In the final quarter of an hour the lead changed hands four times. On the back of successive penalties, Barnes worked to within catch and drive range and Smyth collected his hat-trick try, converted by Gower.

Lydney were presented with a penalty that Knight kicked to level the scores.

Barnes played with 14 men and uncontested scrums for the final 10 minutes.

This negated one of Lydney's most potent weapons but good work in open play from the forwards allowed Craig Jones to get behind the defensive line and Dougie Freeman dived over for the lead again.

Immediately, Barnes broke upfield, Adams kicked ahead but Craig Jones fumbled the ball and James Hersey followed up to score, giving Gower the opportunity to win the game with the conversion.

LYDNEY: C Vine, R Sargent, D Freeman, D Chiu, D Smith, C Jones, R Burford, P Price, B Lewis, L Green, J McMahon, P Kiely, P Scott, W Jones, M Taylor. Reps: S Price, J Bashford, T Emery, M Knight, R Turner.

BARNES: W Gower, D Riley, D Butler, J Hersey, J Adams, G Williams Davies, B Bailey, J Burgess, M Groves, J Dawson, K Low, J Clements, S Givens, C Smith, G Holmes. Reps: E Hunter, J Hastings-Trew, M Monohan, G Little, D Wilson.

Lydney star man: Matt Taylor