Thornbury went down fighting as they began the new season with a heavy defeat, writes Dave Fox

Yet the young side left the pitch with their heads held high and can take great credit from the loss.

Lydney were invited to Thornbury for a Friday evening match which was the first game played under the new training floodlights installed on the Second XV pitch. The match was an experiment but it proved to be a successful one: the lights were excellent.

The Severnsiders scored seven tries, five of them coming from driving lineouts which highlighted their dominance up-front.

New skipper James Wood led a Thornbury side containing several young players. Thorns kicked off but were faced by a powerful pack that took control of possession and territory from the outset. Despite good defence from Thornbury Lydney’s forwards drove over from a lineout for a converted try. They repeated the score a few minutes later then scored a third try from a diving lineout as the first quarter came to an end for a 21-0 lead.

Thorns made wholesale changes at the end of the first quarter and were on top for much of the remainder of the first half. They scored a fine try attacking from a scrum.

Tom Stolliday drew the midfield defence and when Jack Oakey came into the line at pace he put Sam Garbett in at the corner for the first try of the season.

Max Curtis converted with an excellent kick from the touchline. But Thorns were unable to score again, and Lydney led 21-7 at half time.

Thornbury defended superbly for most of the second half. Then whilst Thorns were re-organising themselves following an injury to Mike Priday Lydney were more alert and scored another try in the corner.

Then they added a fourth driving lineout try before Lydney broke through a tired defence to score again. Then, as if to underline where they were dominant, Lydney scored a fifth driving lineout try to rack up a 45-7 win.

In this first game, and taking on a leading side from the division above, Thorns were always facing a tough task but the players put their bodies on the line and tackled heroically for most of the game.

Their commitment and attitude was excellent.

They had once chance to score, which they did superbly, and can go into the next pre-season friendly at Lichfield on Saturday, August 31 with confidence.