TWO good old-fashioned thrashings and a week of knocking the stuffing out of tackle bags worked wonders for Lydney. Transformed from no-hopers to high-hopers they came within inches of defeating league leaders Richmond.

Ironically rugby director Nick Bartlett shouldered some of the blame for the final result.

"Perhaps we worked them too hard. After two heavy defeats we concentrated on a lot of contact in training and towards the end of the match we ran out of steam," he said.

This was a monumental Regentsholme tussle played out in front of a large and enthusiastic home crowd. With Lydney scoring five tries and at one stage leading by 35 points to 14 there were many who thought that Christmas had, indeed, come early!

However a gritty Richmond fightback levelled the scores with just eight minutes to go. Lydney's Tony Wicks, who had performed heroically throughout, might have snatched the victory but a last minute penalty from half-way drifted just inches wide.

While picking out Will Jones and Dave Bennett as outstanding, Bartlett stressed the whole was a team performance. Josh Innes had enjoyed an excellent debut while Chris Holder and Al Bryan had been both constructive and destructive in midfield.

Bartlett hopes the result will spur Lydney on for the remaining two games before the Christmas break. However he fears injuries may take a toll.

Bennett limped off with a knee injury and Holder dislocated his shoulder while others were walking wounded including the impressive Tim Longton.

"I'm hoping we can patch 'em up to get us through the next two weeks," he said.

For Lydney tries were scored by Al Bryan (2), Chris Holder, Tony Wicks and Will Kane. Wicks kicked superbly and landed all five conversions.