Services' win seals promotion to National Leagues

CITY CLUB WIN AT LYDNEY TO SECURE THEIR SOUTH WEST ONE PROMOTION

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

LYDNEY 20 DEVONPORT SERVICES 24

DEVONPORT Services will be playing National League rugby for the first time next season after winning 24-20 at Lydney to seal promotion from South West One with a game to spare.

Services were in the fortunate position of being far enough ahead of chasers Barnstaple to know they would have had a second bite of the promotion cherry against Matson in their last game of the season.

It turned out the spare date won't be needed as Services were never behind from the third minute onwards, although never far enough ahead either to feel fully comfortable.

Victory sealed Services third promotion since the end of the 2017-18 season when they were runners-up in Western Counties West behind St Ives.

It was fitting that two members of the 2017-18 team - stand-off Richard Goldsby-West and captain Matt Gregory were among Services' try scorers at Lydney.

Kieran Leach, the team manager, said Services were made to battle all the way for their promotion-clinching win.

"Lydney were at us from the very first minute and for a side that had nothing to play for it was as if their lives depended on it at times," said Leach.

"At one point in the game we could not get our hands on the ball as Lydney kept it through 32 phases.

"We did not play that well in the first half - perhaps the sense of the occasion got to us? - but a win is a win and we will take one however it comes.

"There were only a few chances in the game and we made sure we took them.

"Our scrum fronted-up when it mattered and our will to go up saw us through the final 10-15 minutes." Harrison Coonick's try and another from Gregory, plus both conversions and a penalty from Goldsby-West, put Services 17-10 up at the turn.

Lydney narrowed the gap with a penalty, but Goldsby-West's try and the conversion gave Services breathing space at 24-13.