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Lions 62 - Kendal  21

Kendal must be wondering what hit them this afternoon as they wend their weary way back up the M6.  They have a strong pack and hard running backs, yet Lions tore them apart with a superb display of 15 man rugby to register another emphatic win and underline their credentials for promotion.

After last week’s underwater spectacular, the pitch was back to its immaculate playing surface…….not something that Kendal would relish, being used to their mud bath at Mint Bridge.  Poor old Jacques Steyn was doubly frustrated:  it was bad enough him having to sit out the game with a broken ankle, but the firm pitch would have been perfect for him to display his silky running skills.  Sadly it was not to be, but Lions put on a show that I’m sure would have had him purring with delight.

The pick up	The run
From the off Kendal showed that they were going to be no pushovers as they took Lions’ first lineout ball.  The early pressure was all Kendal’s as they dominated possession, but Lions struck with almost their first real touch of the ball.  At a midfield scrum the ball squirted out untidily beyond the feet of number 8 Steve Smith, but scrum half Gary Becconsall expertly scooped it up to set off on a run down the short side.  A perfectly timed pass out to evergreen Eddie Saunders saw the veteran winger streak in behind the posts for a dream start for Lions.  Paul Turner added the simple conversion.
The pass	Touch down

Kendal then ably demonstrated the art of ball retention as their forwards drove in wave after wave, but the Lions’ defence showed that they were in no mood to concede points lightly.  Paul Turner tried to relieve the pressure from the scraps of possession that Lions were able to glean with astute kicks down the line, but time and again Kendal drove the ball back.  The pressure finally paid as Lions were penalised for offside, and fly half Mike Scott duly slotted the 3 points.

More excellent driving play by Kendal’s pack had Lions on the back foot, and another penalty for a Lions’ offside was kicked to the corner to set up an attacking lineout.  The ball was duly won and moved along the backs, but Eddie Saunders easily covered a chip over the defence.  The resultant 22-metre drop out was straight to Kendal’s full back, and the ball was driven back at Lions once more.  It was all Kendal at the moment, but Lions’ defence held firm as Mike Scott attempted to break the deadlock with a drop goal, but his kick was well wide.

However, the pressure told as Lions were again penalised for offside, and this time Mike Scott’s kick was straight and true.  Kendal must now have felt that they had the measure of a Lions side that had seen very little possession, but was still leading…….but not for long.  Ryan Turner neatly covered a kick through by Kendal, but in trying to retain possession, Lions were again penalised, and another sweet strike from Mike Scott nosed Kendal in front.

The Lions’ pack was now starting to come back in the loose, and they stamped their authority on set play by driving Kendal back at the scrum on their put in to gain possession.  More driving play took Lions into the Kendal 22, but progress was halted as the visitors resorted to some illegal niggling play.  Unfortunately it was Steve Smith who was penalised on the touch judge’s intervention, which earned the official the wrath of the Shed.  Steve says he had to intervene to look after young Ryan Turner………a case of saving Ryan’s privates.

Lions were not to be denied, and when Kendal were again penalised, another Tim Collier quick tap released Ian Hyde to break into the Kendal 22.  Gary Becconsall was on his shoulder to carry on the move, and when he was held just short it was the old war horse Kevin Dunn who was on hand to take the final pass and dash over for a well worked try.  Again Paul Turner added the conversion.

Kendal’s full back Dan Stephens was none too happy with the score, and apparently told the referee in no uncertain terms, something that earned him a yellow card and 10 minutes in the sin bin.  The offence was missed by most people in the Shed, and only became apparent when Lions were awarded a penalty at the restart.  However, the touch judge was obviously still in his own little dream world as he signalled that the ball had gone directly into touch from the kick off as Paul Turner drilled the penalty into the Kendal 22.  Needless to say the poor official had to endure more words of wisdom from the Shed……..none of which can be repeated here.

Lions were now starting to play with confidence, and quick hands along the backs gave Jordan Hands the space to beat his opposite number on the outside, but the Kendal cover was across in numbers to force the young winger into touch.  Another fine catch by Rob Field at the lineout had Lions back on the attack, but more “robust” play by the Kendal forwards earned Lions a penalty that Paul Turner gratefully accepted to extend Lions’ lead.

A knock on by Lions from the restart gave Kendal an attacking scrum, but again the Lions’ defence held firm.  A blatant late tackle on Paul Turner following a kick through earned Lions another penalty.  A kick to the corner and the inevitable take and drive by the forwards almost had Lions in again, but a knock on saved Kendal as the referee blew for half time.

Although Kendal had dominated phases of play with excellent ball retention skills, it was Lions that had made the most of their possession to run in 3 tries and go into half time with a healthy lead.

Kendal again dominated the opening phases of the second half, but again the Lions’ defence was resolute as the Kendal pack drove in.  When the ball was swung wide, the result was the same, with Jordan Hands putting in an excellent tackle.  The Kendal pressure was building as they turned a Lions scrum on their own 22 to gain the put in.  The first wave of attack was repulsed, but a determined angled run by flanker Nathan Bland saw him crash through the defence to race over by the posts.  Mike Scott’s conversion put Kendal right back in the hunt.

Kendal’s tail was now up, and successive penalties against Lions saw the visitors again camped on the home 22.  Good covering by Ryan Turner as Kendal varied their attacking options with a kick through earned some respite, but Kendal remained firmly encamped in Lions’ territory.

Kendal’s prop Richard Harryman was replaced by Nigel Pearson, and when Kendal’s throw at a line-out was deemed not straight (thanks to the Shed!!), a solid scrum from the Lions pack at last allowed Gary Becconsall to gain some relief with a 50 metre kick.  But back came Kendal and excellent driving play by their forwards had Lions on the rack.  Another converted try at this stage would have seen Kendal only one point in arrears with the scent of victory in their nostrils.  But Lions are made of stern stuff, and wave after wave of attacks were repulsed with uncompromising tackles.  The break had to come, but fortunately it went to Lions as Kendal lost possession and Paul Turner’s kick took play to half way.

This proved to be the turning point as Kendal were then penalised for not releasing the ball in the tackle, and a lovely line kick by Paul Turner established an attacking position on the Kendal 22 metre line.  A typical take and drive by the forwards and quick release saw Matt Tassell held up over the line, but from the resultant scrum, number 8 Steve Smith picked up and drove over.  Paul Turner’s conversion again gave Lions some breathing space, and Kendal must have been kicking themselves for not turning possession into points.

Lions were now starting to stamp their authority on the game, and the next score was a classic.  From a scrum in their own half, a long pass from Paul Turner saw his namesake Ryan scything through from full back.  He made ground to half way and when confronted by the full back delivered a perfectly timed pass out to Jordan Hands, allowing the young winger to race around behind the posts.  A try created and scored by two players with a combined age of less than that of several Lions’ players who shall remain nameless.  Paul Turner capped the move with a simple conversion.

Lions were now moving into overdrive, and a quick tap from a penalty saw Gary Becconsall again make the initial break before handing on to Sam Tovo.  Kendal must by now have been thoroughly sick of the site of Sam bearing down on them at a great rate of knots.  He was held just short of the line, but unfortunately Eddie Saunders looked to be impeded as he arrowed in to take the final pass, and the ball was knocked forward.

Unfortunately Tim Collier had to leave the field with a hand injury to be replaced by Paul Shadbolt.  Steve Smith moved to lock with Sam Tovo taking over at number 8 and Shads slotting in at flanker.  Kendal took the opportunity to bring on some fresh legs to try and stem the tide, and flanker Colin Wolstenholme was left under no illusions of what the Shed thought of his niggling performance as he left the field.  Kendal were now well and truly playing catch up rugby, and when they again tried to run from defence, Lions’ tackling earned a turnover that allowed Ian Hyde to stroll through a huge gap to touch down and take Lions over the 50 points mark………again!!  Paul Turner obliged with the conversion.

On the stroke of full time, Forrest was penalised for tripping (he claims he had lost control of his injured leg), which allowed Kendal to mount one last attack.  A take at the line-out saw them drive infield, and when Lions were penalised in the shadow of their posts, a quick tap saw the ball moved wide for the winger to reach out of the tackle to score.  With the conversion from wide out failing, the referee signalled the end of the contest and another emphatic Lions’ victory.

Final result:

Lions    62            Kendal            21

Kendal must be wondering what hit them as they are by no means a poor side, and enjoyed periods of domination at the start of each half.  However, Lions gave them a lesson in turning possession into points, and this was another superb exhibition of 15-man rugby.  With the match at Lydney unlikely to be played, it now leaves Lions just one win away from that coveted promotion slot. 

Next week Lions are away at Camberley, whilst our nearest promotion rivals Rosslyn Park make the long journey up to Kendal.  On paper it would seem that Lions have the easier task.  On their own pitch and smarting from today’s heavy defeat, Kendal will provide stiff opposition.  However, the game at Camberley must not be taken lightly and Lions must remain totally focussed on the task in hand.  Let’s hope that we gain promotion next week playing the champagne rugby that the supporters have come to know and love.

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Gary Becconsall

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Teeth gritting remains the order of the day for Lions’ last home game against Cumbrian debut visitors Kendal. By Rugby’s earlier experience at Mint Bridge, Kendal have the muddiest pitch in the league. Esher’s comes close but probably spends more time under water. The 17-17 draw at Kendal was the turnaround point of the first part of the season for Rugby when they finally hit the gain-line in away fixtures and Eddie Saunders suddenly became rejuvenated and started scoring tries again. 

Kendal has won seven home games out of ten with one drawn and seven away games out of twelve. Only Bracknell and Harrogate have defeated them at Mint Bridge. Rosslyn Park have yet to pay them a visit.  Kendal’s away record has included wins at Rosslyn Park and Harrogate. Bracknell is the only side to have “doubled” them.

Saturday’s game will surely be decided up front so the Rugby eight will need to be at their best playing as a real powerhouse unit such as they did before Christmas and have been getting back to playing in the last couple of games.

 Today’s game will be yet another testing time for Rugby FC but a supporter’s lot is not a relaxed one either.

 Go for it Lions!