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Lions eventually collected
two vital points for their promotion push, but this was not a vintage
performance as Dale eventually showed how they have maintained a
challenging position in the league.
Despite playing up a considerable and uneven slope and having a bright,
low sun in their faces, it was Rugby who established an early grip on the
game.
Their pressure produced a 7th minute try for Tim Collier from a scrum and
Paul Turner, taking over the kicking from Jacques Steyn this week,
converted.
As the first quarter ended, it was no surprise when Lions added to their
score. This time they went blindside from a scrum for Steyn to claim a try
which Turner again converted.
Only now did Dale start to get into the game, having looked outgunned by
the physically bigger Rugby side.
Three penalties by winger Mounsey chipped away at Lions' lead. Some
decisions seemed harsh, as when Matt Coley was penalised for not getting
out of the way of a chip and run. Even the Dale supporters agreed Lions
got the thin end of the officials' decisions through the match. It is
possibly not too fanciful to suggest that Rugby's bright red shirts made
their actions more prominent than the home side's green.
It was a relief to the Lions support when they scored a third try just
before the interval. Yet again it came from a scrum, and yet again Collier
proved unstoppable from close range. Turner added the conversion to give
Rugby a comfortable-looking lead of 21-9 at half-time.
Wharfedale raised their game at the restart in a reversal of the first
half pattern and Rugby were at full stretch to hold out.
When Lions did attack, Turner was singled out for some treatment and no
action was taken when he was more blatantly blocked from following up a
chip.
Marek Kwisiuk replaced Kevin Dunn and had to make a good first throw in a
line out close to his own line. It was Lions' early difficulties with
their own line outs that had cost them several good attacking positions in
the first half.
On 54 minutes, Dale edged still closer with a fourth penalty but Turner
soon restored the 12 point gap with a Lions penalty.
The match continued to be marred with some niggling pushing and shoving
and Rugby were grateful to Saunders and Tassell for good defensive tackles
when Dale threatened.
Garry Becconsall had irritated the ref with his chat but was wrongly
penalised for a knock-on when the ball went backwards from his hand. His
comment for Kwisiuk to get the ball back to him was somehow enough for him
to be sinbinned.
This made Rugby's lead look vulnerable and Dale benefited imediately with
a straightforward try in the right-hand corner.
Once again there was considerable relief in the Lions camp when they
scored another try. Collier took a tap penalty and fed Matt Tassell who
simply ghosted through for an important try. Turner's conversion took the
score to 17-31 and again apparen safety.
Dale were not finished yet, however, and Rugby's defensive reputation took
another knock when sustained pressure brought Smith, Dale's second try.
A final assault in added time gave Wharfedale a chance wide left. Saunders
made the tackle but was penalised with a yellow card for killing the ball.
It was not intentional and Eddie looked mortified but the threat had been
averted and the final whistle went before he had had time to get off the
pitch.
This was no classic and Lions looked less organised defensively than in
the past, but it is one more big hurdle successfuly overcome.
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