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Lions 37 - Wharfedale 18

Another frustrating afternoon for the Shed saw Lions turn in a lacklustre performance for 75 minutes, then turn on the magic to score 3 tries in a frantic finish to leave poor Wharfedale shell-shocked after they must have felt that a victory was there for the taking.  The score flattered Lions in the end, but could have been even more if Simon Amor hadn’t conspired to miss several very kickable penalties and conversions.

Lions started with Paul Turner at fly half and Simon Amor at full back…….discussion in the Shed revolved around why we have signed a promising young fly half, only to play him at full back??  Paul Turner’s forte has been to come on from the replacement bench and weave his magic, but he has not started many games. 

The early exchanges were fast and furious, with the Lions’ forwards being the first to show their paces, aided and abetted by the deft touches of Paul Turner that almost saw Jacques Steyn through.  Lions were first to have an opportunity to put points on the board with a penalty in front of the posts, but Paul Turner opted for the tap.  Sadly a knock on by Dave Muckalt allowed Wharfedale to bring the ball clear. 

It had been all Lions for the first 5 minutes, but the first time that Wharfedale found themselves in Lions’ half they conjured up a try.  To cries of “forward pass” from the Shed……it only looked slightly forward, but that’s like saying someone’s only slightly dead!!…….the impressive Hedley Verity made the most of some weak tackling by Lions to break the first line of defence…….then the second………then the third!!  An excellent, but very preventable try to Wharfedale, converted by full back John Davies.

Lions were quickly awarded a penalty for killing the ball on the floor, and this time Paul Turner took the kick at goal and made no mistake from 35 metres.  However, he was looking strangely uncomfortable in open play, and passes were not going to hand, when in previous weeks they had been putting people through the gaps.  Indeed it was the Wharfedale backs that were looking very sharp, hitting the ball at pace and making the best of some strangely ineffective Lions tackling.  Holes were beginning to appear in what has been a rock solid defence, and only an excellent tackle by Eddie Saunders prevented another score.

However, Wharfedale were now sensing that they had the measure of Lions, and another series of penetrative drives saw number 8 Russell Buckroyd brush off several would be tacklers to go over for another try in the clubhouse corner.  John Davies missed the conversion, but Wharfedale were looking good value for their lead, and the Shed were trying to work out the implications on promotion hopes of our first home defeat of the season.  Lions certainly looked to be missing the absent Tim Collier more than Wharfedale were missing David Pears, Adam Mounsey, and Paul Evans.

To their credit Lions started to exert more pressure, and from a heel against the head on the Wharfedale right, the ball was spun across the backs to give Jordan Hands the opportunity to score his maiden try for the club.  The good news was that he managed to reach the line, but the bad news was that he lost possession of the ball in the desperate tackle from his opposite number.

The Shed certainly thought that it was going to be one of those days, with the Soothsayer now in full flow.  However, Lions were starting to exert the forward pressure that the Shed know and love, and from a typical drive, the irrepressible Steve Smith dived over.  With Paul Turner looking to be carrying a niggling injury, Simon Amor took over the kicking role, but that is when the rot set in.  Poor Simon had one of those dreadful days with the boot, and set the scene by managing to pull his conversion attempt wide.

 Wharfedale were now a man down, but it was Lions who were having to soak up the pressure as half time approached.  Lovely sleight of hand by Gareth Johnson, who proved a constant thorn in Lions’ side all afternoon, almost conjured up another Wharfedale score, but desperate defending by Lions saw them preserve their slender lead going into half time.

Lions looked to have shaken off their lethargy as the second half got under way with a typical 20 metres drive by the forwards.  Unfortunately a poor pass from Mark Edwards saw Paul Turner knock on, and Wharfedale were quick to seize the initiative from the scrum, and an excellent kick by Neil Heseltine saw Lions back where they had started,

Lions line out work was as safe as ever, and from the drive, Paul Shadbolt suddenly burst clear with a storming run to half way, but the pass to the supporting Eddie Saunders was not the best, and an early chance for Lions went begging.  More good work by the backs gave Jordan Hands room to manoeuvre, but Wharfedale’s cover was up to the task.

At this point Lions brought on Rob Harding for Kevin Dunn, and Gary Becconsall for Paul Turner.  This allowed Simon Amor to move to his normal fly half position, with Gary taking the full back berth.

A lightening break from the base of a scrum by Mark Edwards was thwarted when his kick over the full back was charged down and scrambled clear by Wharfedale.  Now it was their turn to attack, and following another hint of a forward pass that the referee failed to spot, Wharfedale were awarded a penalty which was duly slotted home by John Davies.

“Evens Stevens”, but Wharfedale were enjoying a period of supremacy, with their backs looking increasingly dangerous.  Another penalty to Wharfedale, this time for Gary Becconsall holding on in the tackle after taking a difficult high kick, allowed Wharfedale to secure an attacking position.  Lions’ defence held firm, but after playing an inordinately long advantage to Wharfedale, which they did not take, the referee awarded them a penalty.  Needless to say the Shed had some words of advice for him.  John Davies made no mistake with the kick to restore the visitors’ lead.

Lions were desperately trying to find their rhythm, but as in previous weeks, dropped passes lost promising positions, and when the ball was retained, no-one was running from deep to take the ball at pace and break the advantage line……everything looked very pedestrian.  The referee once again felt the wrath of the Shed when he missed a blatant knock on that would have given Lions a good attacking platform.

As Matt Davies replaced Oscar Wingham for a blood injury, Lions soon gave the Shed something else to shout about.  A scrum saw Simon Amor throw out a long pass to Jacques Steyn whose well timed pass saw Gary Becconsall hit the line at pace to punch a hole in the Wharfedale defence.  With just the full back to beat, Gary threaded a superb pass out to Jordan Hands for the young winger to squeeze in at the corner to at last claim his maiden try.    Simon Amor’s touchline conversion attempt was narrowly wide.

Lions were now leading by 20 points to 18 with five minutes of normal play left, plus injury time, of which there was a fair amount.  The Shed was anticipating a heart-stopping finale.  Would Eddie get another yellow card in trying to stem the green tide??  With the Wharfedale backs looking more than capable of scoring every time they got the ball, Lions at last started to make their tackles count.  However, more poor handling had the Shed faithful tearing their hair out in frustration.  An excellent relieving kick by Simon Amor brought some respite, then with the Shed groaning again as possession was kicked away, John Davies, the Wharfedale full back, failed to take a high kick cleanly and knocked on.  This was his first mistake in an otherwise impeccable performance, but it was to prove costly. 

Forward pressure from the resultant scrum brought a penalty to Lions.  With much nail biting and breath holding (which is difficult at the same time) the Shed watched Simon Amor push the simple kick wide!!  However the drop out resulted in a piece of magic from the young fly half that more than made amends.  A good take by the forwards saw Simon set off on a jinking run from the 22 metre line, no doubt determined to make up for his missed kicks.  The considered view from the Shed was that he then beat the whole Wharfedale team (some of them twice), plus the referee, 2 spectators and a stray dog in a mazey run to the line for a brilliant individual try.  This time Simon’s conversion attempt was not wide…….it hit a post!!

At 25 points to 18 Wharfedale were only one score behind.  Would the missed kicks prove to be expensive??  Lions now had the bit between their teeth and back they came.  (Do Lions have bits, and if so, can they get them between their teeth????  Answers on a postcard please).  This time a high tackle prevented their progress, and Simon Amor was presented with yet another very kickable penalty.  Much to the disbelief of the Shed, he again pushed his kick wide!!  It’s amazing how at times like these everyone in the Shed suddenly believes that they can kick better than the poor so-and-so on the field!!

Now we were in Injury time, and a single converted try would give Wharfedale a share of the spoils.  But the action was all in their half, and Lions’ forwards were at last playing their devastating pick up and drive game.  Wharfedale were tiring fast, and when Lions were awarded another penalty at a close in scrum, a quick tap saw Paul Shadbolt power in at the clubhouse corner, much to the relief of the Shed.  Would Simon Amor’s conversion go over??  Would it get anywhere near??  Having already hit a post, would this one hit the bar……..not the one between the posts, the one in the clubhouse??  Unfortunately the kick again drifted just wide.

With the Shed now baying for the final whistle, Lions treated them to another excellent move with forwards and backs interpassing to put Gary Becconsall in against a totally dispirited Wharfedale side.  To the biggest cheer of the afternoon, Simon Amor sent the conversion sailing between the posts as the final whistle blew.

Lions certainly left it late, and the score definitely flattered to deceive, but as the Shed always say “ a win’s a win”.  Now for next week’s crunch game at Rosslyn Park.  There is a possibility that Tim Collier, who was sorely missed today, might be fit, but there was worrying news from the treatment room after the game.  Several players sustained heavy knocks today, which accounted for the lengthy injury time that we enjoyed.  A fitness check will be taken at training on Tuesday, but there is a very real possibility that several players could miss next week’s vital clash.  We might well be looking to fill more than the problematic full back spot from the player pool. 

Another worry is Simon Amor’s dreadful kicking form at the moment.  We know that Simon Amor has the ability and technique…….witness the Varsity match.  Let’s hope that he has now got all of his bad kicks out of his system.  We will need all the points that we can muster next week if we are to keep our promotion hopes on track.

The Shed believe we can do it, and will be out in force at Park. We know that whatever team we field will not let us down.

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Lions 37 - Wharfedale 18

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Champagne moment...Gary Becconsall's precision pass to put Jordan Hand's in at the corner.

On the face of it Bracknell’s 22-6 win at Wharfedale last Saturday was a very good one and in being judged as one of Bracknell’s tougher remaining fixtures a win by Wharfedale was thought to be better than evens.  The Berkshire club must lose or draw one game if Rugby, who must still win all of theirs, are to be champions of the Second Division.  

Next Saturday a loss by Wharfedale will be the only satisfactory result for the Lions as a second place finish is still theirs to win or lose.  The “common enemy factor” has passed by and last week’s allies are this weeks adversaries.

Wharfedale’s interest in a promotion place has diminished as a result of Bracknell’s win and there is absolutely no chance of their being relegated so they have no “holy grail” to seek. Revenge for a home defeat is likely to be the sole provider of their motivation but the Lions must nonetheless put in a 100% performance..