REGIONAL One South West leaders Devonport Services avoided a potential banana skin as they beat Lydney 40-16 at Keyham on Saturday.
Services, missing a host of backs, started really well on the Royal Navy’s artificial pitch and were 20-3 up after just 27 minutes.
But sixth-placed Lydney did eventually reduce the gap to just four points, and Services got dragged into a type of game that did not suit them for a lengthy period of time before and after half-time.
However, once Services did get their fourth try in the second half, they relaxed a bit more and finished strongly to pull away from their Forest of Dean visitors, who have former Royal Navy captain and ex-Plymouth Albion prop Nick Bartlett on their coaching staff.
Services’ bonus-point win has moved them two points clear of second-placed Topsham, who missed out on a bonus point in their narrow 26-20 home victory over third-placed Brixham.
“We ticked the box and got five points,” said Devonport head coach Ben Russell afterwards.
“We did have some really good spells, and we really played how we wanted to play, but when we go away from it, we are not as good.
“We tried things that we have never done in training. It’s almost like we get bored of playing how we can play.
“But the backs were good when we got the ball. I think they have come on so much from the last couple of years and we are more of an attacking threat.
“And the scrum was good and our line-out was better. We did win a lot of our line-out ball, but our mauls were a little bit unmanaged. There are loads of learning points going forward.”
He added: “The impact from the bench was good. Josh (Martin) did really well when he came on, Harri Hayman has come back to us and that’s a good signing and he did well and Luke Stannard did when he came on.
“We did have a bit of a depleted side out and had a back-rower on the wing, but we have come away with a convincing win.
“Maybe we could have had a couple more (tries), but I think the scoreline and result was a fair reflection of the game.
“There’s still lots and lots to play for and we know it is in our own hands; we just have to win every game.”
The match was moved from the Rectory, but there was still a good crowd turned up to watch the fixture, which saw former Saltash players Rob Walsh and Freddy Dover make their home first-team debuts for Services.
Lydney did go in front with a Charlie Beddis penalty in the first minute, but that was quickly cancelled out by one by Sam Brown at the other end.
The visitors missed a penalty on seven minutes and full-back Charlie Groves scored two quick tries in either corner after some great attacking backs play to put Services 13-3 ahead after 20 minutes.
Services then defended a couple of five-metre line-outs by Lydney before Richard West, playing at centre in a rearranged backline due to unavailablities, scored a fine try when he kicked through and won the race to gather the ball after a good turnover. Brown added the conversion to make it 20-3.
But Beddis reduced the gap with a try in the right corner on 29 minutes.
Services did have three five-metre line-outs on Lydney’s line. Twice the visitors were penalised for illegally stopping the maul, but they got away with it as Services were eventually turned over at the third line-out.
And in first-half injury-time, Lydney cut the scoreline to seven points with a try in the left corner by Tomos Rowe.
The visitors then kicked a penalty early in the second half to make it 20-16 and Services were looking a bit nervous.
However, they were able to relax a bit more in the 51st minute when James Hocking, playing as an emergency winger with Tom Davies, Harrison Coonick, Dan Lilley, Elliott Pocknell, Billy Orchard and Matt Neyle all unavailable, scored in the left corner.
Midway through the second half both teams were reduced to 14 men for a spell after the referee sin-binned Matt Gregory and Lydney’s Harvey Heaven for an incident in a maul.
Services were attacking at the time and two minutes later they did get a fifth try when West put in a clever kick to the corner for Toby Knowles to simply gather and touch down.
Brown added a penalty in the 73rd minute before scrum-half Billy Sutton, getting a rare start, scored from close range after good play by hooker Rob Walsh and centre Shaun Crawford.
* All other league and national cup games featuring sides from the Plymouth area were postponed due to the weather.
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