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Webb Ellis Road was in Carnival
mood this afternoon in the knowledge that Lions’ League status was
secure following that epic win at Otley.
Lions responded with some excellent rugby to comprehensively beat a
Bracknell outfit who are already doomed to relegation.
However, they played their part in an entertaining encounter,
running the ball at every opportunity and scoring some good tries
themselves.
With Cliff Richards unfit, Pete
Roberts reverted to fullback and Fa’atoto Moananu (“T”) came in on
the wing. In the forwards, Tim Collier’s knee is still troubling him,
so the versatile Tim Stannard moved to lock, and Sam Tovo came in at
number 8. Steve Smith is
still troubled by his shoulder and it was not felt worth risking.
Bracknell made their intentions
clear from the off as they moved the ball wide. But “T” was off his
wing like a shot to knock the man down in the centre.
Lions responded with a typical lightening break from Phil Reed, but
Bracknell repulsed the attack.
Bracknell showed good ball
retention in the early encounters, pushing Lions back into their own 22. When Lions strayed offside under the posts, Tim Southall
easily converted the penalty. (
0 – 3 ).
Bracknell extended their lead
shortly afterwards when centre Aaron Spencer burst through some flimsy
tackling, and his perfectly timed pass to Dominic Chapman saw the wing
speeding under the posts. Tim
Southall added the conversion. (
0 – 10 ).
| Lions' response was
immediate. Tristan Prosser-Shaw broke down the right, and as the cover
was sucked in, the ball was spun wide for “T” to angle his run
perfectly and take the inside pass from Pete Roberts to go over
under the posts. Dickie
Davies added the conversion. (
7 – 10) |
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'T's first of the day |
Lions were now getting into
their stride, and an audacious dummy from Dickie Davies created the break,
but his long pass to “T” did not go to hand and the chance was lost.
Matt Tassel was next to scythe through the Bracknell defence and
set up the position for a 5-metre scrum to Lions as Bracknell scrambled to
clear their line. When
Bracknell were penalised, up stepped Dickie Davies to stroke the penalty
over and bring Lions back on level terms.
( 10 – 10 ).
Lions defence now went to sleep
as Will Barber took a pass in midfield when no danger looked imminent.
However, Lions’ static defence stood and watched as Will did his
impression of “come dancing” and waltzed through to score under the
posts. Tim Southall added the
conversion. ( 10 – 17 ).
| Lions
replied in fine style with Matt Tassell again starting the move with
a strong break. The
ever improving Stuart Potter was on hand to continue the move, and
when the ball was moved wide, Pete Roberts gave “T” just enough
room to squeeze in at the corner.
Dickie Davies’s touchline conversion was held up in the
strong breeze. (15 –
17 ). |
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'T's second |
| Lions next try was
one to savour as Sam Tovo burst through from a lovely Dickie Davies
inside pass (I mean the pass was lovely….not Dickie!!).
Eddie Saunders was in support, and although the pass was
slightly behind him, the flying wing managed to hang on and head for
the corner. With one
man to beat, my money’s on Eddie every time, and the great man
didn’t disappoint as he cut inside the bewildered cover to race
round behind the posts. Dickie
Davies added the simple conversion.
( 22 – 17 ).
More poor tackling by Lions in midfield saw
a break down the centre that gave Dominic Chapman another easy try. The final pass looked forward, but when the Shed suggested
this to the referee, he replied with a smile on his face and an
emphatic “oh no it wasn’t”.
This time Tim Southall’s conversion drifted wide.
( 22 – 22 ). |
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Tovo to the new star of Sky sports. |
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..familiar sight |
| There was just time
for Lions to get their noses in front before half time.
With James Ogilvie-Bull on for Matt Tassell, Lions
pressurised the Bracknell line.
What looked like a deliberate knock on by a desperate
Bracknell defence saved a certain try, but this only delayed the
inevitable. Another
excellent move in the backs following the resultant scrum had Dickie
Davies looping round Pete Roberts to take the return pass and crash
over. Dickie added a good conversion into the strong breeze to give
Lions a slender advantage as half time was called.
Half time
Lions
29
Bracknell
22 |
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..all welsh move. |
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..still it worked |
Lions started the second half
in determined style with Sam Tovo picking up a loose ball from a Bracknell
mistake and charging to within a couple of metres of the line.
Bully was next on the charge, but his difficult pass to Dickie
Davies went to ground. The
impressive Stuart Potter had to leave the field to be replaced by Craig
Jones who moved to fly half with Dickie Davies moving into the centre.
| Bracknell’s
forwards looked to have been rejuvenated by their half time pies,
and they trundled Lions back almost 20 metres.
Unfortunately when the ball was released the pies looked to
have had the opposite effect on the backs who promptly lost
possession. Dickie
Davies fly hacked the ball fully 70 metres only to be beaten by the
bounce a metre from the line. However,
Craig Jones was on hand to pick up and fall over for a simple try.
Dickie Davies’s conversion came back of a post.
(34 – 22 ). |
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Craig Jones picks up to score |
Both Dickie Davies and Craig
Jones wasted possession with long kicks that went dead resulting in scrums
back where the ball was kicked. Bracknell
seemed to have caught the disease when they were awarded a
penalty…….and promptly kicked it straight dead!!
Another storming Bully break
should have resulted in a score, but his final pass was a poor one behind
the support. Jason Brittin
now replaced Marek Kwisiuk at hooker.
More poor kicking by Lions allowed Bracknell to counter, but
replacement Richard Parker was stopped in his tracks by a typical Sam Tovo
tackle. Play continued, but
Richard remained Tovo’d for a minute or two, presumably counting the
little birds that were circling his head!!
Another long kick by Dickie
Davies had the Bracknell cover retreating at pace to cries of “they’re
behind you” from the Shed as the Lions followed up at pace.
Unfortunately the Bracknell cover took no notice and was swamped by
the advancing Lions to earn them the scrum put in.
However, Lions were penalised after a bout of handbags at 10 paces,
with Will Pilkington earning a rebuke from the referee.
| Bracknell attacked,
but Pig was alert to the danger and was onto a loose ball in a flash
to pop a pass up to the supporting Tristan Prosser-Shaw who raced 60
metres before offloading to Phil Reed who beat the last man to score
an excellent try. Dickie
Davies missed the conversion as Tommy Walsh replaced Phil Reed.
( 39 – 22 ). |
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T P-S to Reed at
pace |
| The next try almost
brought the house down as a delicate chip through by Craig Jones saw
Eddie Saunders follow up to take the ball at pace and score his 250th
try for the Lions. Dickie
Davies missed the conversion. Eddie
appeared to pull a hamstring in the process of scoring and limped
off to a standing ovation in what could well be his last game for
the Lions……but who knows?!?!?! How fitting that the game was filmed by Sky television who
are doing a special report on our Eddie.
Fergie Gladstone came on as replacement, with flanker Will
Pilkington filling the wing berth.
The old warhorse Mike
Brewer tried to bamboozle the Lions defence with some sleight of
hand as he attacked, but Tristan Prosser-Shaw was having none of it
as he smashed his opponent to the ground.
Another change for Lions followed with Necky Mee replacing
Phil Greenbury in the front row.
Lions were soon down to
14 men as Pig Brittin was despatched to the bin for the final 10
minutes of the match for stamping.
Both sides were now throwing caution to the wind as the ball
was thrown about with gay abandon (can you say that on a Web site
these days??). When
Bracknell were penalised at a line-out, a quick tap gave Bully the
room to make even more room as he bulldozed his way through and
delivered an inside pass for Craig Jones to cross for his second
try. Dickie Davies
missed the conversion.
There was just time for
Bracknell to score an excellent consolation try when good hands and
support play ended with replacement Jerry Costeloe crossing.
The conversion was missed as the excellent referee brought
the game, and the season to an end…….still with a smile on his
face as it had been all game.
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Jones chips through |
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.. that 250 tries
for the Lions |
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..and the old
chap crosses the line for the last time |
The old warhorse Mike Brewer
tried to bamboozle the Lions defence with some sleight of hand as he
attacked, but Tristan Prosser-Shaw was having none of it as he smashed his
opponent to the ground. Another
change for Lions followed with Necky Mee replacing Phil Greenbury in the
front row.
Lions were soon down to 14 men
as Pig Brittin was despatched to the bin for the final 10 minutes of the
match for stamping. Both
sides were now throwing caution to the wind as the ball was thrown about
with gay abandon (can you say that on a Web site these days??).
When Bracknell were penalised at a line-out, a quick tap gave Bully
the room to make even more room as he bulldozed his way through and
delivered an inside pass for Craig Jones to cross for his second try.
Dickie Davies missed the conversion.
There was just time for
Bracknell to score an excellent consolation try when good hands and
support play ended with replacement Jerry Costeloe crossing.
The conversion was missed as the excellent referee brought the
game, and the season to an end…….still with a smile on his face as it
had been all game.
Final result:
Lions
49
Bracknell
27
Lions again showed that they
have a young team that has started to play to its true potential.
Mal Malik and his fellow Directors now need to ensure that we build
on this to develop a squad that will more than hold its own in Division 1.
The coaching situation is now interesting as well, with Richard
Cockerill looking certain to leave for a lucrative contract in France.
Interesting times!!
Rest assured that Webby will bring you all the news as it breaks
during the close season. Roll
on September!!
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