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Lions were looking for a
convincing victory to secure promotion back to National League One at the
first attempt, and they did not disappoint their large contingent of
travelling supporters as they totally overwhelmed a spirited but totally
outclassed Camberley outfit.
Camberley’s main pitch looked
in excellent condition and just perfect for Lions’ 15 man rugby, but
sadly the match took place on a small secondary pitch as it appears that
the lease on the main pitch has expired and the local council will not
allow it to be played on!
The Lions’ team in the
Camberley program caused a few chuckles, as it appeared we had several new
signings playing. Garrry
“roll your r’s” Becconsall was at scrum half, Tim Colher at lock,
Sam Toud at flanker, but best of all was Paul Sadbolt at prop!!
As the team took the field to a
rousing reception, it became clear that we had some new names, but it was
still the same old faces that we know and love.
It was good to see Denzil Evans making a welcome return at full
back in his first game since getting injured in September.
Although it was tough on young colt Ryan Turner who has impressed
in the last two games, I’m sure that he will have many more
opportunities to display his undoubted talents in a Lions’ jersey.
Lions showed that they were not
taking the game lightly as they attacked from the off and only desperate
Camberley tackling prevented Ian Hyde from grounding the ball over the
line within the first minute
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Lions’ forwards drove in hard
to keep the pressure on, but they were penalised for going over the
top at a ruck to allow Camberley to clear to half way.
However, Lions disrupted Camberley’s throw, and forced
another line-out. Kevin
Dunn showed how a line-out throw should be made, and Tim Collier
showed how it should be taken, as Lions set off on one of their
characteristic rolling mauls. |
| When
the ball was released, Paul Turner’s clever inside pass saw Garry
Becconsall stride over by the posts for the first points of the
afternoon. Paul Turner
put the conversion between the cute little posts. |
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Camberley next felt the wrath of
Sam Tovo in full flow (not a pretty site…….but we still love you
Sam). When Paul
Turner’s first kick to the corner was covered, the fly half was
there again to retrieve the poor clearance and fire another kick to
the opposite corner. |
Camberley cleared but Lions were soon back on the attack.
An Angus Innes take and forward drive saw Garry Becconsall darting
through, but the supporting Steve Smith spilled the ball straight to
Camberley’s Warren Milne who put in an excellent clearing kick…..for a
lock!!.
The next Lions’ line-out saw
another Angus Innes take, but Tim Collier’s peel did not work as
planned, and possession was lost. However,
Tim quickly made amends with a turnover in midfield that lead to a
Lions’ attacking scrum. Steve
Smith’s pick up at number 8 gave Gary Becconsall room down the short
side to scamper in for his second try.
Paul Turner missed the conversion from wide out.
Camberley had their first
opportunity to put points on the board when Tim Collier was penalised for
obstruction, but Steve Webb’s 30 metre kick drifted just wide.
Paul Turner’s 22 metre drop out was charged down, and poor
tackling by Lions allowed the impressive Brad Kane to make the initial
break for flanker James Kindon to power over.
Steve Webb’s conversion failed.
Enterprising play by Camberley
saw full back Steve Webb with some room on the wing, but ever reliable
Eddie Saunders wrapped him up and bundled him into touch.
Unfortunately Kevin Dunn’s radar went on the blink at the
line-out and Camberley were awarded a scrum for not straight.
Lions’ forward power was again to the fore as they disrupted the
scrum and Camberley were penalised for pulling a Lions’ player back. A quick tap put Lions back on the attack, and when their
rolling maul was illegally pulled down, the referee gave the offending
Camberley forward a long talking to.
Paul Turner’s kick to the
corner allowed Tim Collier to execute another perfect take and the
forwards were too powerful for Camberley as they drove Kevin Dunn over for
the score. Paul Turner again
added the conversion.
A high kick by Camberley was
well taken by Denzil Evans to set up another attack, but a poor pass to
Jordan Hands saw the winger knock on.
However, Lions’ turned the resultant scrum to gain the put in,
allowing Paul Turner to clear to half way.
Steve Smith stole the ball at the line-out to set Sam Tovo off on
another of his blockbusting runs, and his timely pass to the supporting
Denzil Evans should have seen a score, but the full back ignored the
overlap and was collared as he went for the line.
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Another disrupted scrum gave
Lions’ the put in, and again Steve Smith picked up from number 8
and broke blind, but this time he used Garry Becconsall as a foil
and drove over himself. Paul
Turner added an excellent conversion from wide out. |
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Lions were soon back on the
attack from the kick off, with Steve Smith and Sam Tovo to the fore.
As the ball was moved left, Jordan Hands took a poor pass off
his toes to keep the momentum going, and when the ball was spun
right, there was Eddie Saunders to scoot round the remnants of the
Camberley defence to register yet another score in his remarkable
career. Paul Turner
completed the conversion. |
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Now came a short period of
Camberley pressure, as first Oscar Wingham (for a double movement) and
then Sam Tovo (for allegedly stealing the ball) gave them a site of the
Lions’ 22 metre line. Good
recycling by the Camberley forwards, supported by good handling by their
backs, pulled the Lions’ defence first left and then right to give wing
Ali Allen the room to sprint over for an excellent try.
Steve Webb added the conversion.
When Lions’ were penalised,
Brad Kane drove them back with a 50 metre kick, but Steve Smith returned
this with interest when he picked up a poor Camberley throw at the
line-out to gallop downfield scattering all before him.
A free kick to Lions for delaying the put in at the scrum almost
lead to another Lions score on the stroke of half time, but a knock on by
Steve Smith in the tackle saw the move break down.
| Half time: |
| Camberley
12
Lions
33 |
Lions were quickly on the
attack in the second half as Paul Turner put Ian Hyde away, but a long
pass out to Jordan Hands saw the young winger isolated and Camberley were
able to steal the ball for fly half Dominic Gaynor to put in a long
clearance kick. Quick hands
by Lions’ again gave Eddie Saunders some space, but he could not beat
the cover as he came inside the last line of defence. Lions’ maintained the pressure, but resolute Camberley
tackling kept them at bay.
When
a Camberley forward came into the wrong side of the maul, Tim Collier was
penalised for over zealously pointing out the error of his ways as he
dragged him out. The penalty
allowed Camberley to clear, but Lion’s forwards were again starting to
wind up the pace to force a scrum on half way.
| The position looked to be lost
as the ball squirted out beyond Steve Smith at number 8, but Gary
Becconsall was on hand to scoop up the loose ball and break the
first line of defence. As
ever the back row were in support with Steve Smith putting Sam Tovo
clear to canter in under the posts.
Paul Turner added the simple conversion. |
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Straight from the kick off the
Lions’ forwards secured possession, and a long pass by Paul Turner but
Jordan Hands away for the youngster to show his paces as he beat two
despairing tackles in a 50 metre touchline dash to score.
Paul Turner could not add the difficult conversion.
| Lions now brought on Mark
Edwards for Garry Becconsall, who had enjoyed another fine game, and
Paul Shadbolt replaced Phil Greenbury, one of Lions’ unsung heros. |
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Camberley were now resorting to
offside tactics in trying to stem the Lions’ tide, a ploy that the
referee either did not spot or chose to ignore.
However, Lions were not to be denied, and when Denzil Evans tidied
up a Camberley chip over the top, he cleverly slipped the ball to Paul
Turner in the tackle. The fly
half quickly move the ball right for Mark Edwards to put Eddie Saunders
away on a 30 metre dash to the line.
Paul Turner missed the conversion.
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Eddie was soon streaking down
his wing again, as a blind side move opened up the Camberley defence
for the fleet-footed winger to cut inside the full back for another
classic 50 metre try. This
time Paul Turner made no mistake with the conversion as Lions topped
fifty points again. |
Lions were now in total
control, and a superb pick up by Paul Shadbolt when the ball was spilled
in a tackle saw him embark on a bullocking 30 metre drive to set up the
chance for Ian Hyde who was hauled down just short of the line.
Quick ball back infield allowed Matt Tassell to stroll through the
remnants of the Camberley defence for Lions’ 10th try.
Paul Turner tagged on the conversion for good measure.
With Richard Harding replacing
hooker Kevin Dunn, Camberley won a penalty at the next line-out with a
piece of pure theatre. There
was no denying that the Camberley forward was impeded as he jumped for the
ball, but his reaction would surely have won him a series of awards for
best actor. As a member of the Camberley coaching staff commented from
the bench……”that’s something you just can’t teach anyone!!”.
Lions were now almost scoring
at will, and a typical Sam break in which he “Tovo’d” several
players allowed Ian Hyde to stretch away from the defence to touch down.
Paul Turner’s conversion hit a post and stayed out.
There was just time for Angus
Innes to open his legs and show his class in a 50 metre run, including a
superb dummy, before running out of steam and slipping the ball to Eddie
Saunders. Desperate defence just kept him out as the referee’s
whistle sounded full time and the celebrations began.
| Final result: |
| Camberley
12
Lions
69 |
| It was good to see such a large
contingent of Lions’ supporters there to join Oscar and the team
as they cracked open the champagne.
Let’s hope that they, plus many more, will be there to
support the team next year as they look to consolidate a position in
National League One. The
Shed will certainly be the place to be on a Saturday afternoon come
September. |
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It was also good to see Jacques
Steyn on the pitch at the end to join in the celebrations as he has been
so instrumental in Lions’ promotion push since his first game at a muddy
Kendal. It would be terrific
to see him back next season. We
should also not forget all the other players who have contributed to the
success but who were not here today.
This Thursday’s club dinner will allow us to thank each and every
one of them.
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What was so nice to see was the
rapport between the players and the supporters.
It is difficult in this professional era to maintain the
“family” atmosphere at a club, but Lions have certainly achieved
it this season, and there is no reason why we should not build on
this for next. Thanks
must surely go to David Owen for his superb support that has made it
all possible, and long may the relationship continue. |
So we can all breathe a sigh a
relief and start to plan for next season.
The onus must be on retaining as many of this current team as
possible, especially the pack who are surely strong enough to hold their
own in National Division 1. So
now it’s down to the long summer evenings to savour fond memories of a
very successful season, and to look forward to the mouth watering prospect
of Division One rugby at Webb Ellis Road again.
Tantalising local derbies against Coventry, Moseley, Birmingham
Solihull (assuming they avoid the drop), and Bedford, as well as tilts
against the likes of Worcester. Roll
on September!!
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