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Lions

34

Exeter

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Lions started this game in confident mood after 3 straight victories, but they were brought firmly down to earth by an Exeter side riding high in the Division.  Exeter’s league placing is owed in no small part to their massive pack, and this was in evidence again this afternoon as they scored five close range tries. It wasn’t pretty, but it was certainly effective. 

The game marked Jacques Steyn’s first home appearance since breaking his leg at the end of last season.  Steve Smith has not fully recovered from a knock sustained last week at Wakefield, so Sam Tovo filled the influential number eight’s shirt.  With Rob Field serving the obligatory 3 game “rest” following concussion, Tim Stannard started the game at lock alongside Chris Jones.  Tim Collier has recovered from the flu that kept him out of the side at Wakefield, but giant lock was consigned to start on the bench. 

The size of the task in hand was apparent from the moment the Exeter team took to the field.  Each man who ran out seemed to be bigger than the last……and the first one was by no means small.  The fears in the shed were quickly realised when Exeter stole the ball as Lions drove in from the kick off.  When Lions were penalised for coming in the wrong side of the maul as they tried to retrieve the situation, Exeter fly half Chris Malone drilled the kick to within 5 metres of the Lions’ line.   

When Exeter failed to find touch in returning the kick off, Sam Tovo powered in to set up the ruck.  The ball was whipped wide, but Jacques Steyn was very firmly wrapped up.  As the heavy Exeter pack drove Lions backwards, Jason “Pig” Brittin was penalised for illegal use of the boot.  Chris Malone’s penalty took play just beyond the half way line.   

Referee David Grasshof’s attention was drawn to the opposite side of the field by the touch judge, and play was brought back for an Exeter penalty as Lions’ captain Tristan Prosser Shaw was given a stern rebuke.  From the referee’s eccentric gestures, this again seemed to be for illegal use of the boot.  Again, Chris Malone was able to clear to half way. 

This time Exeter made no mistake at the line, and the pack drove Lions back 10 metres before releasing the ball for Sean Marsden in the centre to angle a perfect kick to the corner flag.  The throw to a shortened Lions’ line failed to find it’s mark, but fortunately Exeter knocked on as they tried to secure the loose ball.  Lions’ first scrum against the massive Exeter eight was wheeled with ease to give the visitors the put in 5 metres from Lions’ line. 

Exeter’s juggernaut pack drove Lions back as though it was a training session, and number eight Richard Baxter picked up from the base of the scrum to crash over for his second try.  Again, Chris Malone added the conversion.  The shortcomings of Lions’ lightweight pack were being cruelly exposed as the side found themselves 14 points down after just 10 minutes. 

A good phase of play by Lions ended with a kick by Jacques Steyn that Exeter covered easily.  Another long kick by Sean Marsden cleared the line but failed to find touch, and an excellent return by Cliff Richards saw Lions back in Exeter’s 22.  Exeter duly won the line, but a poor clearance by Chris Malone saw Exeter infringe in trying to claim the ball from the ensuing ruck.  Cliff Richards’ relatively simple penalty attempt drifted wide, allowing Exeter to clear with a long drop out. 

A good driving run by Sam Tovo set up the position for Stuart Potter to roll a kick back to Exeter’s 22 metre line.  This time the Exeter throw into the line was crooked to give Lions an attacking scrum.  A more solid platform allowed Lions to probe down the right, but the ball was spilled into touch.  However, the referee brought play back to penalise Exeter for offside, and this time Cliff Richards slotted the simple penalty. 

Lions now enjoyed a good phase of play with Captain Tristan Prosser Shaw leading by example, and again Exeter were penalised for offside.  This time Cliff Richards’ kick from half way didn’t have the distance and Exeter touched down for a drop out.  When the kick was charged down, Stuart Potter almost wriggled through, but when the ball was swung wide Lions were penalised for crossing and Chris Malone cleared to half way. 

Exeter stole the Lions’ put in, but solid Lions’ tackling denied the visitors, and Chris Malone again resorted to the boot to drive Lions back into their own half.  Again Exeter took the Lions’ line, and after a few mid field drives, the pack arrived in force to retreat Lions fully 20 metres and plant the ball over the line.  However, the referee’s attention was again drawn to the linesman on the far side of the field, and after brief words, Exeter lock Robert Baxter was yellow carded and a penalty awarded to Lions.  At least this made things a bit more even in terms of pack weight. 

Richard Davies’s clearance was a poor one, but luckily the Exeter wing failed to take the catch cleanly, to give Lions a scrum.  With a temporary man advantage it was Lions’ turn to push Exeter back.  However, the ball squirted out of the scrum to allow Exeter to steal, and yet another Chris Malone kick to the corner gave Cliff Richards little room to manoeuvre, and he could only clear to the 22 metre line. 

Danger territory again!  When the line was duly won, Exeter drove hard into midfield.  Lions’ defence held firm, but Tristan Prosser Shaw was penalised as he tried to steal the ball and he retaliated as he took exception to the way an Exeter forward prevented him from doing this.  Chris Malone made no mistake with the 22 metres kick from in front of the posts. 

Exeter’s clearance from the kick off was a poor one giving Lions a line-out on Exeter’s 22 metre line.  Unfortunately Lions’ usually reliable line out work failed them again as the throw missed the mark.  The referee deemed it to be not straight giving Exeter the scrum.  Still a man short, the Exeter 7 were wheeled by a good push from the Lion’s 8 and Lions were awarded the put in. 

The scrum was duly won, but a dreadful mix up between the centres saw the ball spilled and another chance lost.  However, the referee had spotted an infringement and awarded Lions a penalty.  This time they spurned the chance of 3 points and Richard Davies planted the kick to the corner.  Could Lions make their numerical superiority tell and recover some lost ground before half time?  

The throw was good, the tap down looked good…….but the receiver didn’t quite seem to be working to the same call, and Exeter were able to steal.  Chris Malone’s long clearance failed to find touch, and Cliff Richard’s high return was fumbled by the Exeter defence to set up another golden opportunity for Lions. 

Sadly it was another golden opportunity that went begging as solid Exeter defence saw another turnover and subsequent clearance by Chris Malone.  But Lions still had an attacking line so all was not lost…….until another woeful line out by Lions allowed Exeter to take the ball with ease and clear their lines. 

To ironic cheers from the Shed faithful Lions finally got their act together to take a clean line, and powerful driving runs and good support by Tristan Prosser Shaw and Sam Tovo soon had Lions back in Exeter territory.   Again Exeter were penalised for offside, and a quick tap by Tom Walsh saw the ball spun wide, but again Exeter tacklers were there in force to effect yet another turnover, allowing Chris Malone to clear his line. 

Robert Baxter duly returned to the fray having spent his 20 minutes in the sin bin.  Lions seemed to have finally sorted out the line calls as Chris Jones rose to secure a good catch, but unfortunately the referee deemed the throw to be crooked.  The clearance kick from Chris Malone was massive, but fortunately ran straight dead rather than into touch by the corner flag.  Play was duly brought back for a Lions scrum. 

With Sam Tovo blatantly being obstructed as he tried to pick the ball up, the referee adjudged the scrum to have wheeled sufficiently to give Exeter the put in.  A poor clearance by Chris Malone saw Cliff Richards make ground with a jinking run, and Lions enjoyed several phases of play, but there was no cutting edge to the attacks, and Exeter repulsed them with ease.  When Ben Lewitt was penalised for holding on in the tackle, Chris Malone boomed a kick to within 5 metres of Lions’ line. 

The throw was taken at the second attempt, but determined Lions’ tackling kept the attacker’s at bay to gain the put in at a scrum in the shadow of their own posts.  Restored to full power again, the Exeter engine room went into overdrive, shunting Lions back off their own ball at a great rate of knots.  Richard Baxter was held up on the line, but this only delayed the inevitable, as from the resultant scrum he picked up and drove over for his third try.  Chris Malone duly converted as the referee blew for half time. 

Half time 

Lions    3            Exeter            24

If points were awarded for length of time in the opponents half, then Lions would have been well in front.  However, lack of a real cutting edge in attack, coupled with some woeful line-out work and too many turnovers meant that Lions were well and truly trailing.  Exeter really only made 4 incursions into Lions’ territory, but they came away with 3 tries, and on the other occasion had a try disallowed!! 

Lions beefed up their pack for the second half with Paul Shadbolt and Bennett Smith replacing Tom Woolrich and Phil Greenbury in the front row, and Tim Collier taking his place at lock.  Tim Stannard moved to number eight with Sam Tovo going to flanker in place of Tristan Prosser Shaw. 

Certainly the first scrum of the half looked solid, but the first line-out continued in the same vein as the catch was not clean allowing Exeter to steal.  When Lions were penalised, Chris Malone put the kick to the Lions’ 22 metres line.  This time it was Exeter’s throw that didn’t find the mark, allowing Sam Tovo to tidy up, but the clearance kick from Richard Davies was not a good one, and back came Exeter. 

Lions’ tackling was hard and true, and again it was that man Chris Malone who pegged them back with a kick to the corner.  Tom Walsh’s clearance failed to find touch, allowing Exeter to take the ball and spin it wide.  Sean Marsden made the half break in the centre and a well timed pass to the supporting Dermot Kelly almost had the winger through, but a superb tackle by Sam Tovo knocked the ball from his grasp. 

Quick hands saw Tim Collier brush a tackle aside and set off for the line 60 metres away.  Unfortunately a bout of fisticuffs erupted in his wake and the shrill blast of the referee’s whistle brought a disappointing end to an intriguing situation.  Sam Tovo was singled out from the melee as the guilty party and was duly dispatched to the sin bin.  Chris Malone put the kick to the corner.  The lineout was duly won and yardage made before the referee missed a blatant knock on and then penalised Lions again for taking the maul down illegally. 

Chris Malone tapped the kick to the corner (yaaaaawn), and the line-out take and drive saw Exeter held up over the line.  Again this only delayed the inevitable, as a pick up and drive from the base of the resultant scrum saw Jason Hobson claim the touchdown.  This time Chris Malone pulled his conversion attempt wide. 

A long return from the kick off saw Cliff Richards take a safe catch, but yet again we saw anther turnover and quick ball had Sean Marsden slicing through.  With the cover forcing him to the corner, his overhead pass to the supporting Dermot Kelly was knocked down and touched down by Pete Roberts to give Exeter another attacking scrum. 

Determined tackling by Lions kept Exeter at bay until a penalty for holding on in the tackle allowed Richard Davies to clear.  Unfortunately, another lost line-out quickly saw Exeter back on the attack and Lions were subject to sustained pressure.  The thin red line held until another attacking scrum saw Richard Baxter pick up at the base to feed scrum half Ian Sanders who squirmed his way over.  Again, Chris Malone’s conversion attempt slid wide of the mark. 

Sam Tovo made a welcome return from the sin bin as Lions restarted with 20 minutes remaining to salvage some pride.  Exeter were penalised at a scrum and marched back 10 metres for arguing.  Richard Davies found touch, but again the line-out work was woefully out of touch as the throw failed to find the jumper.  Fortunately Lions were awarded a free kick and a series of determined drives saw them secure a scrum in the shadow of the Exeter posts. 

A Sam Tovo pick up almost had Tom Walsh through, and when the ball was spun wide, Jacques Steyn’s pass to Phil Reed went to ground allowing Exeter to clear their line.   

Lions now replaced Jacques Steyn with James Ogilvie Bull, and a see saw passage of play saw neither side make much headway against determined defences.  A long clearance by Lions saw Exeter flanker Blair Foot, who must be 8 feet 12 in his stocking feet, take the ball and start to make ground.  Lions’ winger Phil Reed, who must be 5 feet 4 in his platform soles, had other ideas as he hit the flanker with a superb tackle to lift him and dump him unceremoniously in a heap. 

A lightening break by Tom Walsh from a ruck raised Lions’ spirits, and as the ball was swung wide, Exeter were penalised for a deliberate knock on.  3 points were spurned, but the kick to the corner failed to make touch and Exeter cleared.  Another opportunity completely wasted.  Even the resultant line out failed to raise spirits as yet another throw failed to find its mark.   

Exeter moved the ball wide but were forced into touch on the Lions’ 22 metres line.  A quick throw by Lions and excellent work in the backs  saw Pete Roberts in space and he made good ground to half way before being caught by the cover.  Exeter were penalised for offside, and a quick tap almost had Pete Roberts through again.  Quick hands from the ruck saw Phil Reed in space, and as the winger was tackled, Exeter were again penalised for yet another offside offence. 

Richard Davies tapped the kick into the corner, and at last a good line-out saw Tim Collier secure possession.  A dummy run by Stuart Potter saw James Ogilvie Bull almost put Phil Reed through, but the ball was lost as the winger took the tackle. 

Paul Thompson replaced Sam Tovo, who had a very quiet game by his own usual high standards, as Lions looked to capitalise on yet another close in line-out.  Unfortunately, but seemingly inevitably, the line was lost and Exeter were able to clear. 

A free kick at the line out against Exeter saw Richard Davies make the half break and hand on to the supporting Paul Thompson.  Tom Walsh was on hand to continue the move, but poor handling saw the ball roll into touch.  

Now it was Exeter’s turn to mess up a line-out as Lions stole the ball and drove into the Exeter 22.  A superb break by Richard Davies and a perfectly timed pass to James Ogilvie Bull saw the big centre juggle with the ball before recovering to crash over for the best try of the game.  Chris Richards added the simple conversion.

Back came Exeter, and a break by that man Richard Baxter was spoilt when he was penalised for crossing. 

Lions were now enjoying their best spell as they moved the ball at every opportunity.  A perfectly weighted pass by James Ogilvie Bull put Cliff Richards through the gap, and his pass saw Phil Reed dancing towards the line.  When his progress was halted the forwards arrived in force, but possession could not be secured with a massive overlap beckoning, and Exeter were able to steal the ball and clear their line. 

The remaining minutes were run down with Lions throwing caution to the wind and playing some excellent rugby, but sadly it was all far too little far too late. 

Final result: 

Lions    10            Exeter            34

Lions did enough in this game to show that they have the ability to maintain their mid table position in the league.  However, hard work is needed on the line-out to get it back to its normal high standard.  More throws seemed to be lost today than were won.  The number of turnovers conceded is also cause for concern.   

Next week we travel to Moseley for another crucial fixture, and Lions must put this week’s defeat behind them and concentrate on the basics to get them back to winning ways.  A victory in Birmingham is certainly achievable, and would leap frog us above our opponents.  However, the attitude and the application need to be right.

No....no one this week

Lions team

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Next Saturday Exeter return to Webb Ellis Road for the first time since October 1999 when the 22-45 score gave them their first league victory in Rugby out of four games played here. By the end of that season Exeter had completed the double over Rugby and finished in fourth place, but the Lions, second to bottom, were relegated with West Hartlepool who are currently tottering on the edge of National League oblivion.  

When Exeter secured a highly prized win against Rotherham at Clfton Lane it must have given them a vision of being Division 1 champions, but Coventry’s one point victory at Coundon Road two weeks later was a setback. The solid home defeat of Worcester that followed no doubt revived that vision, but Exe’s nose-dive at Otley’s dreaded Cross Green ground three weeks later must have written off even the remote chance of their catching Rotherham. Exeter’s seven out of seven at home are Bedford, Bracknell, London Welsh, Manchester, Rugby, Wakefield and Worcester. In addition to the above away losses and win there was an early defeat at Bedford and victories at Moseley and Birmingham.  

With both Manchester and Moseley winning their games last Saturday Rugby’s last minute victory at College Grove, though providing relief and after-match exhilaration for the travelling support, did not move Rugby any higher up the league table. It did, however, put some welcome extra space between the Lions and the bottom three; Wakefield, Bracknell and Henley.  

This Saturday, with three wins in a row, two of them away from home, Rugby must get on the pace from the start of the game and emulate Otley’s recent achievement. The penalty count is reducing, the team is getting a settled look again and this is a rare home game. Never was there a better chance to show the faithful support just what Rugby Lions can do.