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Esher 17 - Lions  39

Parakeets Stuffed

This was another “must win” game for Lions, and with a stiff breeze in their faces they held the Parakeets in a disciplined first half performance, before themselves taking full advantage of the elements in the second half to give the Parakeets a good stuffing.  With several players suffering niggling injuries, Simon Amor continued at full back, with Angus Innes and Sam Tovo covering for Rob Field and Steve Smith.

Lions showed their intent from the off with a series of strong forward drives, but penalties allowed Esher to use the strong breeze to relieve the pressure.  Back came Lions with another 20 metre drive during which something emerged from the maul at a great rate of knots.  It wasn’t immediately apparent if this was the ball or someone’s head, but it turned out to be a scrumcap.  Wearing one of these in attempting to stem a Lions’ forward drive is somewhat superfluous to requirements…….rather like a Kamikaze pilot wearing a crash helmet!!

Simon Amor’s first test at full back was not long in coming as Esher put up a high kick.  He judged the swirling wind to perfection to take a clean catch, but then completely misjudged his own kick and it went straight into touch.  Using the wind well, Esher set up their first attacking platform in Lions’ territory, and when Lions’ were penalised at the line out, John Gregory had the first opportunity to put points on the board.  From 35 metres out and slightly to the right of the posts, he had trouble with the wind and his kick drifted wide.  I was having the same problem, but mine was due to the Guinness.

Lions’ backs were next to show there paces as Jacques Steyn, who seemed to tweak a hamstring in the opening minutes, released the ball well in the tackle to give Matt Tassell a run before the cover hauled him down.  Esher were then caught offside, an offence that they had committed several times but that had been missed previously by the referee.  Lions opted for a quick tap, but poor hands surrendered possession and allowed Esher to clear.

Despite playing into the wind, Lions had certainly enjoyed most of the territorial advantage, and the try was no more than they deserved.  Esher again moved the ball wide, and a strong run down the touchline by Alan Cook set up the position from where fly half Billy Stanley found a gap, chipped ahead, and won the chase for the ball despite the close attention of a Lions’ defender.  With John Gregory adding an excellent conversion from wide out, Esher were back on level terms with just about their first incursion into the Lions’ 22.

Esher established another promising position when Jordan Hands was penalised for not releasing the ball as he tried to run out of defence.  Esher’s backs again looked dangerous, but an overlap was spurned as the ball was knocked forward.  Paul Turner gave Lions some respite with a shrewd kick that Esher had to put into touch.  Lions took the line and drove, but again the pack could not repeat the devastating mauls from the previous week.

Esher were now using the wind well, and Lions defence had to be at its best.  A chip by Simon Amor from a defensive position almost saw him clear, but the bounce was not kind and he knocked on as he tried to regather.  A cheeky 22 metre drop out saw Paul Turner impeded, but he still managed to gain possession, and as Lions kicked for position, Esher’s Simon Owen took a superb catch to avert any danger.

A cry of “get them onside” from an Esher supporter had the chuckle muscles of the Lions’ contingent working overtime in view of their own team’s unpunished misdemeanours.  Perhaps this is where John Inverdale got the inspiration for his TV show!?!?

 Esher were now starting to look dangerous, and a quick line out throw around the back of the covering Jordan Hands set up another attacking position on Lions’ 22.  The throw looked somewhat crooked, but full marks for enterprise.  So far Lions’ defence had held firm, but good switch passing amongst Esher’s backs had Lions defending grimly, and when they were penalised, John Gregory stepped up on the stroke of half time to regain the lead with a kick from in front of the posts.  10 – 7 at half time would have been very acceptable to the vociferous Lions’ supporters who were bolstered by the illustrious presence of Chairman David Owen.  Unfortunately Esher had other ideas, and in injury time Lion’s first time tackling failed allowing Billy Stanley to create the opening for Matthew Morahan to send the supporting Jeff Smith sliding over by the posts.  Simon Gregory tagged on the easy conversion leaving Lions’ facing a by no means easy task in the second half.

With the wind now in their favour, Lions’ game plan was obvious……..pepper kicks to the corners and keep play deep in Esher’s half.  Lions needed a quick score to get themselves back in contention, but Esher stole the ball at the first line-out on Lions’ put in.  Esher’s efforts to drive out of defence were thwarted by resolute Lions’ tackling, and when Esher were penalised for holding on in the tackle, Lions were quickly on the offensive with a kick to the corner.

A long kick from defence by Paul Turner was driven back by Esher, but more ferocious tackling by Lions gained them the put in at a scrum.  A pick up by Paul Thompson at number 8 gave Mark Edwards room to relieve the situation with a long grubber kick to Esher’s 22 metre line. 

Esher again tried to drive from defence, but they were penalised and Lions were ominously building up a head of steam.  Now it was Esher’s turn to display their defensive qualities, but again they were penalised, and this time a good strike from Simon Amor brought the scores level.  It was good to see Simon striking the ball confidently following his recent poor form with the boot.

Excellent ball retention by the Esher pack allowed them to drive to half way, but when some foul play was spotted by the touch judge, Jacques Steyn punished them with a 50 metre kick to touch.  Kevin Dunn’s throw for once missed the target, but Oscar Wingham tidied things at the back of the line to allow the forwards to drive to the Esher line where Tim Collier peeled off the maul to crash over and regain the lead for Lions.  Amor’s conversion attempt failed from wide out.

Again Esher tried to make space running from defence, but Jordan Hands typified Lions’ resolve with a big hit on his opposite number to halt proceedings.  The winger was enjoying another fine game, and seems to grow in stature each week as he gains confidence.  To their credit, Esher stuck to their task and almost broke away, but an overlap was wasted through a knock on.  From the resultant scrum, Jacques Steyn ran into the eager arms of a two man reception committee, but it appeared that he was wearing the wrong deodorant as they immediately let him go.  I’m sure that Jacques will claim that it was his strength that allowed him to twist free, but whatever the reason, he sprinted clear to plant the ball triumphantly between the posts.  Amor’s conversion now put Lions firmly in control.

Lions now scented victory, and they were soon back on the attack.  A measured rugby league style crossfield kick by Simon Amor almost saw Angus Innes in for a try, but the second row didn’t quite have the pace to get to the ball and Esher’s defence just pipped him to the touch down.  At this stage Lions brought on Dave Muckalt for Paul Thompson.  What another fine game Thomo had in both attack and defence, running his little cotton socks off for the cause.  His replacement was quickly into the thick of things following up a Paul Turner kick to wrap up the defending Esher player before he had chance to clear.  When Esher were penalised, up stepped Simon Amor to strike the ball sweetly between the uprights to extend Lions’ lead to 15 points. The Parakeets were now almost as dead as their illustrious relative in Monty Python. 

Paul Turner ensured that Esher continued to play the remainder of the game in their own half with a masterly display of tactical kicking.  The referee blew his whistle to end a match in which the Parakeets were well and truly plucked!!

A terrific controlled all round performance from Lions in both attack and defence in what was on paper a tricky encounter.  Scoring 32 unanswered points in the second half showed Lions’ determination to gain promotion, and in this form there is no reason to believe that they cannot win all 4 of their remaining matches.  However, the focus must be retained next week against Fylde when we will be seeking revenge for a narrow away defeat.  Then comes the stern task of seeing off Kendal at Web Ellis Road before our final 2 away games at Camberley and Lydney.

It was good to see Lions’ travelling supporters in good voice today.  We need as many people as possible to repeat the exercise at Webb Ellis Road next Friday evening to roar the team on against Fylde.  I can’t wait!!!

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The whole Lions team

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Harrogate with their fast backs provided stiff opposition for Rugby last Saturday but the team did enough in the first half to keep their home league record intact in spite of Gate’s second half assault. So that leaves five more games but with Rosslyn Park’s defeat of Wharfefale at Threshfield the squeeze is still on.

Esher lost to Kendal at Mint Bridge last week to give the Cumbrians a double. Other winners at Esher were Harrogate and Wharfedale, both winning by two-point margins. Rosslyn Park, Rugby’s challengers for second place in the league could only draw their game 10-10 at the beginning of December. Esher came to Rugby in December during the Lions purple patch that started with Camberley and ended with Bracknell and did better than both of their neighbours.

The game will be potentially as difficult as the one at Rosslyn Park and this time a draw will not be enough.

Just for the record Rugby last paid a visit to Esher in September 1985. Rugby won 21-0 with David Coulter scoring 17 of the points with a rare “full house” of 1 try 2 penalties, 2 conversions and a dropped goal. It was a welcome win in a poor season.