.

Lions supporters travelled to Fylde with high hopes of a good win to consolidate the team’s position as League leaders.  Surely after the Nottingham debacle Lions would have learned their lesson and would not underestimate opponents whom they were expected to beat.  How wrong can you be!!  Fylde had obviously not read the script, and played with commitment and passion, something that was sadly lacking from Lions, whose pack would have been more at home on the beach giving rides to the children.

Fylde kicked off with a stiff breeze at their backs, but Lions worked their way upfield to gain a position from where Paul Turner converted a penalty.  So far so good……..but then the rot set in.  Using the breeze to good advantage, Fylde set about Lions with fervour, and were rewarded by two penalties, well struck by their young fly half, David Wiseman.

Lions again took play into the Fylde half, but fierce tackling by a fired up Fylde kept them at bay, restricting them to another Paul Turner penalty.  When opportunities did present themselves, all too often the player in possession was left isolated at the breakdown, resulting in relieving penalties for Fylde for not releasing the ball.  A fairly nondescript first half ended with Lions fullback, Craig Quick being sin binned for killing the ball.  David Wiseman duly obliged with another three points from the resultant penalty.  

Although downhearted, Lions supporters were not despondent.  Surely the team would step up a gear in the second half with the wind at their backs.  Wrong again.  Lions were constantly being thwarted by strong Fylde pressure, and good positions were lost through wrong decisions.  By now Lions had completely lost the plot and their frustration showed with a string of penalties that were compounded by conceding yardage for dissent.

Suddenly Lions realised that they were in a game, and a powerful run by Sam Tovo almost had Dean Watson in at the corner, but more indiscipline by Lions allowed Fylde to clear their lines.  Fylde now began to sense that victory was a distinct possibility, and they again drove Lions upfield, only for David Wiseman to pull a penalty attempt well wide.  At last a series of strong forward drives by the Lions pack allowed Dan Bailey to cross for a try which Paul Turner converted.  Surely Lions would now start to turn the screw and build on their slender lead.  You guessed it.…….wrong again!!

Fylde had other ideas, and took the game back to Lions.  Indiscipline by Sam Tovo resulted in the Lions flanker being sin binned at a time when Lions were having to soak up pressure from a rampant Fylde pack.  This finally paid off when the home number eight, Mike Dreyer, forced his way over for a try.  With the conversion being missed, Lions now found themselves one point adrift with five minutes left to play.

Now there was a sense of urgency in Lions play, but again good attacking positions were won and lost as Fylde’s determined defence were not going to let a win slip from their grasp.  A last minute drop goal attempt from Paul Turner was well off target, and as the final whistle blew, the whole Fylde team leapt in the air to celebrate a well deserved win.

Lions must look very closely at this performance, both as individuals and as a team.  The supporters expect and deserve more.  We know that the players have the ability, but if our aspirations of gaining promotion are to be fulfilled, every last one of the team must start to show the desire to win which was so much in evidence at the end of last season.  Let’s hope that we don’t leave it too late again.

Final result: 

Fylde    14            Lions             13

Quotes from those who were there:-

 "We ( the lions) were out passioned."  a long standing/suffering supporter.

" Some players thought they only had to turn up to win" - a  Lions player"!!

"Send him off" a Fylde supporter on Sam Tovo's sin binning, on enquiry form a Lions supporter who did not see the incident ..why? The reply came" I don't know, but well done ref" !!!