London Welsh

37

Lions

.15

..

Despite the scoreline, this was a much-improved performance from the Lions after the debacle at Henley.  The commitment was certainly there, but the application still needs working on.  Lions were given a lesson in clinical finishing from a powerful Welsh outfit who made the most of the possession that they had, unlike the Lions who enjoyed long spells of territorial advantage, but lacked the cutting edge to turn pressure into points.

Lions started well with a towering Gary Owen from Richard Davis that Matt Vines did well to take under pressure.  His clearance did not find touch and Lions drove in again, only to be penalised.  A brilliant steal in the tackle by Fa’atoto Moananu stemmed the first Welsh attack, allowing Richard Davies to pin them back with a raking kick to touch. 

Welsh’s first incursion into Lions’ territory saw them post the first points on the board.  With Lions disrupting a back row move from a scrum, they were harshly penalised for a deliberate knock on.  What a stupid law!!  As if anyone sets out to deliberately knock on.  It’s a natural reaction to go for the ball, and hardly a penalty offence.  Up stepped Jon Ufton to plant the ball between the posts from 35 metres.

 Lions were soon on level terms as Welsh were penalised when they attempted to drive the ball clear from the kick off.  Richard Davies confidently stroked the kick home from 30 metres. 

All the play was in the Welsh half as Lions strove to find a way through a solid Welsh defence, but their only reward was to have another penalty awarded.  Unfortunately this time Richard Davies pushed his 40 metres kick wide. 

Lions scrum was looking anything but solid as Welsh drove them back, but good work by Steve Smith tidied things up, allowing Richard Davies to peg Welsh back with another good kick.  Welsh varied their tactics with a high kick from defence, but Fa’atoto Moananu was equal to the task as he rose to take the ball cleanly.  He looked to be taken out whilst still in the air by the on rushing Welsh, but the referee saw things differently. 

Another kick was again comfortably dealt with, as Norpera Stewart returned the favour with a lovely high kick into the corner.  His follow up was perfectly timed, but the bounce saw the ball go high over his head with a score beckoning.  Welsh were in all sorts of difficulties, and were penalised for deliberately knocking the ball into touch.  Richard Davies tapped the kick to the corner, but just when it was needed, Lions’ usually dependable line out failed to deliver as Welsh stole the ball and cleared the danger. 

Tim Collier was next to the fore, with a crunching tackle in midfield that saw him wrench the ball free.  Quick hands saw Phil Reed in some space, but the cover stopped his touchline gallop.  Back came Lions, and a Richard Davies’ chip was well covered by James Strong with Fa’atoto Moananu bearing down on him. 

Indiscipline by Lions allowed Welsh a rare incursion into the Lions’ half with a penalty, and when the offence was repeated, Jon Ufton struck an excellent 40 metres kick to give Welsh the lead. 

A blindside break from a scrum by Welsh was well dealt with by Fa’atoto Moananu, and Welsh were penalised for holding on in the tackle.  Unfortunately the usually reliable Richard Davies screwed the simple kick to the corner the wrong side of the corner flag to concede a scrum where the kick was taken. 

Welsh attacked wide, and as the move seemed to break down, the ball was hacked on into Lions territory.  The follow up was quick, reaching the ball just before Norpera Stewart, and Matt Vine was on hand to dribble the ball over the line and win the race for the touchdown.  Although he did not seem to get any downward pressure on the ball, the referee awarded the score, and with Jon Ufton adding the conversion, Lions were undeservedly 10 points down.

Stewart Potter limped from the field looking to be suffering with his hamstring, and Matt Tassell joined the fray in his place.  Lions needed a score before half time, but instead conspired to give Welsh the opportunity to add to their own score.  Some determined Lions’ tackling kept Welsh at bay and forced a knock on.  A scrum on the Lions’ 22 should have seen the ball cleared, but instead the scrum was wheeled for a Welsh put in.  The initial drive from the base of the scrum sucked in the Lions’ defence, and a then superb long pass saw Matt Vine steaming up from full back to tear through a huge gap in the Lions’ defence to score by the posts.  Jon Ufton duly added the conversion. 

Lions looked to reduce the deficit with a good take at a line out and a searching kick to the corner by Richard Davies.  Unfortunately Lions’ had no time to capitalise on the position as the referee blew for half time. 

Half time 

London Welsh                20                Lions                3

 Lions could justifiably feel hard done by to be 17 points adrift after a solid first half performance.  If territorial advantage was anything to go by, Lions should have been holding a healthy lead.  However, as in boxing, it is no good building up a big points advantage, then falling for the sucker knock out punch.  Unfortunately that is exactly what Lions did.  Welsh only got into the Lions half on 4 occasions during the half, but on each of these they came away with a score…….something that Lions should ponder on deeply!! 

What a quaint little Welsh custom they have at half time at Old Deer Park.  Whilst the Welsh players go off to their dressing room beside the pitch, the opposition have to treck 200 metres to theirs!!  I reckon when Welsh come to Webb Ellis Road we should make them get changed in the school at the end of the drive!! 

Anyway, back to the fray. Lions needed an early score to get themselves back into the game, and Norpera Stewart soon had them on the attack with a scything run from defence.  When the ball was lost, it was picked up by a Welsh back who decided to run around Tim Collier.  Now that is a very long way, and before he was halfway round, Tim had him by the scruff of the neck and was just about to whirl him around and despatch him into orbit, when Welsh reinforcements arrived. 

Lions attacked again, and good driving by the forwards saw them held metres short, but slow ball allowed Welsh to regroup, and when the ball was released, Richard Davies could not take the ball cleanly and the Welsh defence was able to clear. 

Back came Lions to try again, and this time Welsh were penalised with Florent Rossigneux, that well known Welshman, being despatched to the sin bin for what looked like handling in the ruck.  A rather harsh decision, but one that gave Lions an opportunity to put some points on the board during his absence.  Unfortunately Richard Davies, who was not having one of his better games, pulled the not too difficult kick wide. 

Now it was Welsh’s turn to apply some pressure, but a penalty for holding on allowed Lions to take a quick tap and move play back upfield.  When Welsh were again penalised, this time Richard Davies made no mistake with his kick to the corner.  A good take at the line out had the forwards driving in, but when the ball was moved wide, a crunching tackle on Phil Reed saw the ball spilled and another opportunity lost. 

Norpera Stewart again caught the eye, as well as a high kick, to set up another Lions attack, but possession was too slow in its delivery, and the backs showed no enterprise, allowing Welsh to easily stem the tide with some determined tackling. 

Now it was Lions’ turn to lose a player as Toby Bainbridge-Kay was despatched to the sin bin for fighting.  Welsh put the penalty into the corner, but a lovely steal at the line out by Chris Jones allowed Richard Davies to clear.  However, the respite was short lived as Lions were penalised in mid-field, allowing Jon Ufton to extend Welsh’s lead with a beautifully struck kick from 45 metres. 

At last Lions showed some enterprise when Norpera Stewart, fielding a long Welsh kick to touch, took a throw in to himself and launched an attack.  Several pairs of hands saw Richard Davies looping round to create space down the wing.  When he was held just short of the line, the forwards arrived in strength.  Welsh were penalised for offside, and Tim Collier took a quick tap to force his way over under the posts.  A well deserved score for the graft he had put in all afternoon.  Richard Davies added the conversion to give Lions some heart. 

Lions now made wholesale changes, with the front row of Tom Woolrich, Jason Brittin, and Bennett Smith being replaced by Phil Greenbury, Matt Williams, and Ben Buxton.  At the same time, Ben Lewitt replaced Will Pilkington. 

Phil Greenbury quickly made his presence felt with a crunching tackle in midfield to gain Lions the put in at the scrum.  Unfortunately, the hard work was wasted as Welsh wheeled the scrum to gain the put in. 

Welsh were now stepping up the pace, and Lions did themselves no favours with poor kicks that did not find touch, allowing Welsh to maintain the pressure.  Lions finally cracked as powerful forward play sucked the defence in, and with a man short, as the ball was moved wide, Welsh had players to spare, with Matt Vine again the man diving over to extend the lead.  Another excellent kick by Jon Ufton added the conversion. 

Lions attacked from the kick off, but poor ball retention allowed Welsh to clear their lines.  The next Lions’ attack came from James Ogilvy-Bull, who lived up to his name with a charging run (have you ever seen a charging ogilvy??  Not a pretty sight).  Unfortunately the supporting player was unable to take the ball as James tried to get the pass away in the tackle.  Again Lions tried to move the ball wide, but again good anticipation by the Welsh defence saw the Lions’ midfield get man and ball with the inevitable loss of possession. 

Welsh tore back at Lions with more powerful forward drives, and when Lions were penalised for offside, a quick tap saw the Welsh pack drive over for another score.  Need I say it……the excellent Jon Ufton added the conversion. 

To their credit, Lions refused to lie down, and they were soon hammering on the Welsh line again.  A series of penalties were run, but just as it looked as though the Welsh defence would hold out, a Lions’ centre forced his way over.  The announcer thought it was one centre, and the Lions’ supporters thought it was the other one, so the try has been awarded to Jammattes Ogilvie-Tassell-Bull…….Dennis, please note for the records.  Richard Davies missed the kick to leave Lions still well adrift. 

A searing break in midfield by lock Chris Jones saw him race 50 metres upfield, but unluckily he lost the ball in the tackle as he looked to offload to the support, and Lions’ last chance to add to their tally went begging. 

Final result: 

London Welsh                 37                Lions                15 

Although the better team, the margin of victory flattered Welsh.  Lions worked hard, but contributed to their own downfall with some poor ball retention and a lack of attacking ideas to break down a resolute Welsh defence.   However, this was a much-improved performance by Lions against a very strong Welsh outfit, and the players can take heart from this.  Another week to work on certain areas that everyone knows need improving should set things up nicely for the clash with our old adversaries from Coventry next week.  A win here would certainly be a good way to kick start the season.  One thing’s for sure…..the Shed will be right behind the team.

Moananu Fa'atoto

Lions team

As at Thursday night

While the members of Rugby’s squad have been kicking their heels for two weekends London Welsh, their opposition for this coming Sunday, did have a game on the second of them when they lost 30-3 at Exeter in a Senior Cup tie.  

If the Lions come away from Old Deer Park with an Armistice Day victory it will be their first, though there were two occasions, in 1997/8 and 1998/9 when they could easily have won if luck had been in their favour. On their last visit just before Christmas 1999 when Paul Turner was rebuilding the team they lost 70-7, but at the end of the season Rugby won the return match 32-28. The London game was Jim Wingham’s last appearance before a back injury, that brought him off in that game forced him into early retirement.  

London Welsh are currently seventh in the league table on 17 points with seven games played. At the moment their away record is better than their home record but that is due to their having played, and lost home games against the division’s heavyweights, Rotherham and Worcester, with a solitary win against Bracknell. Away from home two victims have been bottom-of-the-table Wakefield and Henley; they also beat Coventry but lost to Otley. 

The Lions selectors will still have their choice for this weekend’s team restricted by injuries but it is to be hoped that a fortnight’s rest will have put some energy back into tired bodies. Spirit is another thing, however, and that is what the supporters would like to see back in full measure so that memories of the afternoon at Henley can be rapidly consigned to the past.