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Exeter  

Link to Exeter's web site

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Lions travelled to “Fortress Exeter” looking to consolidate on their solid opening to the season.  However, they were undone by an inept first half performance that saw the Chiefs score 20 points with no reply in a first half totally dominated by their pack.  When Lions did secure some quality possession in the second half, they ran in 2 excellent tries to show what might have been.  However, it was a case of too little too late, but a late penalty from Richard Davies at least secured a welcome bonus point. 

With the injury situation not easing at all, Lions had Phil Reed continuing to stand in on the wing.  They opted to start with Phil Greenbury, Marek Kwisiuk, and Bennett Smith in the front row, with Ben Lewitt given his first start on the flank at the expense of Will Pilkington who dropped to the bench. 

As always, Exeter came out of the traps with all guns blazing, and Lions conceded a free kick at the first lineout, and were then penalised at the first ruck for handling.  These refereeing decisions were fair enough, but some of the others made throughout the game had the small band of Lions’ supporters perplexed and angry…….much to the amusement of their Exeter counterparts.  Our wrath was vindicated later by an international referee who was at the game and agreed that some of the decisions against Lions were not quite as he would have called them!! 

 A poor pass from the Exeter scrum half had his fly half in all sorts of trouble, but centre Matt Oliver was on hand to scoop up the loose ball, and almost break through the advancing Lions’ line.  He was eventually checked and a knock on brought a relieving scrum to Lions.  However, just as in the lineouts, the Lions’ scrum was immediately under pressure, resulting in Richard Davies’s hurried clearance kick being sliced to the 22 metre line. 

Scottish international Andy Reed was taking line out ball at will, and another wave of Exeter attackers was repulsed.  Lions were fighting to use any scraps of possession that they could get their hands on, but this was few and far between.  What little possession they did get was not used to good effect, and one such moment of uncertainty almost let Exeter in for a try, but a knock on prevented a score. 

Lions cleared from the scrum, only to be penalised for pulling down at the resultant lineout.  Phil Greenaway made no mistake with the 35 metre kick, and the signs were looking ominous for Lions. 

Richard Davies compounded the pain by putting his start kick straight into touch to give Exeter a scrum on halfway.  A pick up and drive from the base of the scrum was penalised, much to the delight of the Lions’ supporters, but the throw at the resultant lineout was not straight as Lions’ tried desperately to get any sort of possession.  The referee had suddenly realised that he could give penalties to both sides, as he spotted Exeter holding on in the tackle.  Unfortunately, Richard Davies’s relatively simple kick from 35 metres slid agonisingly wide of the post to leave Lions trailing. 

To make matters worse, Exeter’s long restart drop out was fumbled by Fa’atoto Moananu on his own 22 metre line to give Exeter an attacking scrum.  Exeter duly picked up and drove in, and after a very long advantage, the referee penalised Lions for offside.  A quick tap saw Lions’ resolute defence hold out, only for the referee to penalise them again in a much more kickable position.  However, such was Exeter’s pack domination that they opted to kick to the corner. 

The inevitable Andy Reed take and drive had Lions under pressure again, but excellent defence resulted in a Lions’ scrum.  Unfortunately, the pack was unceremoniously shunted off the ball by the Exeter 8 for them to gain the put in.  This time the pick up and drive was not to be denied, as Lions’ prevented the inevitable score illegally, and the referee awarded the penalty try.  Phil Greenaway added the simple conversion to put Exeter 10 – 0 up. 

A period of scrappy play ensued with Lions seeming to be doing everything at breakneck pace in an attempt to win any possession, with the result that what scraps of possession did come their way were squandered.  The referee continued to earn the displeasure of the Lions’ supporters as he missed a blatant forward pass, then ignored an Exeter lineout throw that was as straight as a fiddler’s elbow to award Exeter a scrum for a Lions’ knock on.  As the Exeter supporters said, they were enjoying total domination and didn’t need any extra help from the referee!! 

Lions were penalised twice in quick succession as Exeter exerted more pressure, and another score looked inevitable.  Exeter opted to kick to the corner, and yet another clean take and drive looked to have been held, but Exeter were awarded the put in at the scrum 5 metres from Lions’ line.  Could Lions hold the powerful Exeter eight……..sadly not.  It was like Custer’s last stand as the Lions’ pack was edged slowly back by the Chiefs until the ball crossed the line and scrum half Ian Sanders had the simple job of falling on it to register Exeter’s second try.  Phil Greenaway again added the conversion to put Lions even further behind. 

Again Lions earned the wrath of the referee to first be penalised when in an attacking position to allow Exeter to clear to half way.  When they were penalised again at the resultant lineout, Phil Greenaway’s penalty from near half way looked to be falling short, but was just carried over by the strong breeze to leave Lions 20 points in arrears as the referee signalled half time. 

Half time 

Exeter   20            Lions            0 

Whatever Lions had in their half time cup of tea certainly worked as they came out showing far more resolve.  Pressure straight from the kick off forced a fumble by Exeter who were tackled over their own line to give Lions a 5 metre scrum.  A clean heel and quick ball gave Pete Roberts the opportunity to take the ball on the narrow side and coast through the gap for a simple try.  Richard Davis added the conversion, and with the strong breeze now at their backs, Lions were back in business. 

Richard Davies was now using the breeze to good effect and a lovely kick to the corner saw Lions in another attacking position.  Exeter won the lineout and were able to clear when Lions were penalised for men coming into the ruck from the wrong side.  However, Lions were now showing their true style, and it wasn’t long before more good possession and quick hands saw winger Phil Reed away, but he was forced into touch on the Exeter 22 metre line. 

Stuart Potter was the next to show his paces as he almost cut through, but a despairing tackle brought him down.  Exeter were penalised for handling in the ruck, but  Richard Davies again pulled his 35 metre kick agonisingly wide. 

Lions were now enjoying a period of dominance, and Ian Hyde was next to show his paces in a move that saw full back Pete Shaw actually over the line in the corner, but he was unable to ground the ball.  Exeter somehow emerged from the melee with it, but strong Lions tackling prevented them clearing and gained Lions the put in at the scrum as Exeter’s progress was halted.  

Sadly Lions were penalised as they drove in, and Exeter were able to clear to halfway.  Another penalty at the lineout for holding down saw Exeter gain their first foothold in the Lions’ 22 during the second half.  The referee again earned the wrath of the Lions’ supporters as he missed a blatant Exeter knock on, and then penalised Lions when an Exeter man was lying on the wrong side of the ruck making no attempt to roll clear. 

At this point Tim Collier, who was having one of his less effective games, was replaced by Rob Field who was making a welcome return after being sidelined for 3 weeks by a virus.  Exeter also took the opportunity to make 4 replacements……something that seems common in National League 1.

Astute kicking to the corners by Richard Davies soon had the pressure back on Exeter as Lions sought another score to put them right back in contention.  Now it was Lions’ turn to bring on fresh legs as Matt Tassell replaced Ian Hyde at centre, and Jason Britten took over the hooking role from Marek Kwisiuk. 

Another attacking scrum to Lions saw them drive in, and when they were awarded a free kick, a promising move was spoiled as Jason Britten knocked on with virtually his first touch of the ball.  However, Lions were soon back as a penalty was drilled to the corner by Richard Davies.  Sadly the throw at the resultant lineout was a poor one, and Lions were unable to capitalise on an excellent attacking position. 

Poor old Rob Field was now hobbling badly, and had to be replaced by Fergie Gladstone.  Let’s hope that at least one of Tim Collier and Rob Field are fit for next week’s game.  Lions also took the opportunity to replace flanker Tristan Prosser-Shaw with Will Pilkington. 

A scintillating break by Matt Tassell saw him superbly side-step the fullback, but he was hauled down just short of the line by a desperate defence.  However, Lions were awarded the scrum put in, and in a repeat of the first try, a quick heel and good hands saw Richard Davies slice through to score.  To the Lions’ supporters’ dismay, Richard Davies missed the conversion, but Lions were now back in striking distance at 20 – 12. 

Exeter suddenly realised that their 20 point lead was slowly but surely being whittled away, and a sense of urgency crept into their play.  After another inordinately long advantage, the referee brought play back for an Exeter penalty, but this was pulled wide of the posts.  Not to worry…….the referee immediately penalised Lions again, this time in a much more kickable position.  However, Exeter opted to tap to the corner and were looking for yet another clean take and drive………and they got it.   

However Lions were in no mood to concede more points after fighting so hard to claw themselves back into contention, and the defence held firm.  A penalty against Exeter allowed Richard Davies to push Exeter back to halfway.  Yet another penalty to ……two in succession!!……..saw Richard Davies teeing up the ball from halfway.  The young fly half has been striking the ball sweetly in recent games, but his kicking form looked to have deserted him in this game.  However, he kept his nerve to strike a beautiful kick straight between the posts. 

Was there time for Lions to get that elusive try that would give them at least a draw?  Afraid not…….but at least they gained a bonus point for their narrow defeat. 

Final result: 

Exeter   20            Lions            15 

This was certainly a game of 2 halves, with Lions remaining scoreless in the first half, and Exeter remaining scoreless in the second.  However, Exeter were able to convert more of their pressure into points, but Lions were so very close. 

If only Richard Davies had not missed some relatively simple kicks at goal.  If only Pete Roberts could have grounded the ball when over the line.  If only the referee had spotted some of the things he so blatantly missed.  If only Andy Reed had not been playing!!  Unfortunately “if onlys” don’t win games. 

Lions can reflect on a game that they could, and should, have won.  The pack were completely outplayed in the first half, but rose to the occasion magnificently in the second half.  Lions’ backs looked sharp in the second half and were unlucky not to score more points.  In contrast Exeter could have fielded a three-quarter line of dustbins for what use they made of their backs.  Talk about one dimensional………but it is very effective one dimensional. 

One worrying thing was the penalty count against Lions, and they must work hard to reduce this.  However, there were a lot of positives in this performance, and the future looks bright once the long list of injuries starts to clear and Lions can field their strongest team and start to build some consistency. 

Next week’s home game against Mosey looks to be an ideal opportunity to get the show back on the road.  Don’t miss it.

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Richard Davies

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Lions team

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An away fixture at Exeter in September is something to look forward to. It usually means a weekend away in the beautiful Devon countryside staying in a choice pub in a picturesque village with a rugby match as well. 

Rugby’s last visit to the County Ground with a `second division´ hat on was in February 2000 when they were on a relegation slide and got well and truly stuffed. They were to some extent suffering from having inflicted the indignity of an unexpected home defeat on the Chiefs two years previously. One of the Lions who helped to storm `Fortress Exeter´ that day was To’o Vaega who having spent last season with the Chiefs has now been released. 

In their first league game of the season Exeter beat greenhorns, Bracknell by three penalty points in the last seconds of the game but last Saturday they lost to Bedford at Goldington Road by 36-27. 

A repeat of Lions’ 1998 result would be a bonus but in order to get four points Rugby will have to cut out the silly errors that prevented their victory against Wakefield being the walkover it might well have been. Let’s make it a yellow card free day as well.