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Lions

25

13

Henley

Henley's record this year

Henley Hawks came to Webb Ellis Road looking to achieve the double, but they had their wings clipped by a competent Lions performance that never approached the champagne rugby served up last week against Rotherham.  However, it was the victory that was important rather than the manner in which it was achieved. 

Lions were again disrupted by enforced team changes.  Tim Collier was serving his one match suspension for a clutch of yellow cards, and both Steve Smith and Sam Tovo are still nursing injuries.  Therefore Tim Stannard moved to lock, while Fergie Gladstone came in at number 8, making room for “Pig” Brittin to start at Hooker.  Lions retained the backs that performed so well against Rotherham with the exception of Alistair Nerwmarch who came into the centre to replace Jim Naylor following his recall by Leicester. 

Lions didn’t seem to have their rugby heads on as Henley were first to show their paces with a lovely little break by fly half Barry Reeves against some tissue paper tackling.  Luckily Ben Lewitt made a timely interception of the final pass to smother the danger. 

Just the start that Lions needed.  However, the next ten minutes belonged to Henley as they displayed good ball retention skills and started to put the Lions’ line under pressure.  Eventually Lions conceded a penalty for offside, and Henley spurned the opportunity to put points on the board in favour of a tap to the corner.  The line was won, but determined Lions’ tackling, ably led by some big hits from Pig Brittin, saw Henley penalised for holding on in the tackle, and Lions cleared.   

Pete Roberts was again prominent with another typical bullocking run.  When he was stopped, Henley were penalised for killing the ball, and their wing Pete Davies saw the first yellow card of the day.  This time Richard Davies’s kick from 35 metres was straight and true as Lions extended their lead to 8 points. 

Lions were now starting to find holes in the Henley defence without really playing anywhere near as well as they had done against Rotherham.  Tristan Prosser-Shaw, leading by example as usual, made a terrific break down the right, but the support was slow to reach him and he was penalised for not releasing the ball. 

Lions were lucky not to concede another score as Ric Van Zyl again exploited some poor Lions tackling, but his inside pass went to ground with the line beckoning.  Henley piled on the pressure, and again Lions were penalised.  This time fullback Jon Fabian gratefully accepted the 3 points from in front of the posts. 

Lions suffered a blow when Fergie Gladstone went off clutching his ribs (don’t worry, they were still in his chest cavity), to be replaced by Will Pilkington.  Lions were certainly missing the likes of Steve Smith, Sam Tovo, and Tim Collier to punch holes in the Henley defence, and Fergie’s departure did nothing to further the cause. 

Henley were definitely enjoying the better of the first half, and a strong forward drive was held up by Lions to give Henley a 5 metres scrum.  Untidy ball had Henley going backwards, but Barry Reeves soon put a stop to this as he picked up and darted through a static Lions’ defence to touch down under the posts.  Jon Fabian obliged with the simple conversion. 

Lions added to their woes by putting the kick off straight into touch, and Henley gratefully accepted the scrum on the centre spot to set up another attacking platform.  This time it was Lions’ turn to be penalised for killing the ball, as Will Pilkington was duly despatched to the sin bin.  The problems were compounded as full back Jon Fabian stepped up to stroke over the penalty and extend Henley’s lead. 

Lions now started to show a little more resource, with a good run from Jacques Steyn followed up by Bennett Smith.  However, the final pass went straight to a Henley player (as had several others earlier), allowing the Hawks to counter attack, but an attempted drop goal was well off target. 

Quick thinking by Richard Davies saw his deft little 22 metres drop out brilliantly picked up by  Phil Reed for him to race away.  He jinked inside the fullback and set off for the posts, but the Henley cover was on hand as the little winger was swamped.  Lions were penalised as they drove in, allowing Henley to clear the danger. 

Henley secured the line, but a knock on gave Lions an attacking scrum.  A score just before half time would have been useful, and it came in the form of a penalty as this time Henry Nwume was despatched to the bin for killing the ball.  Richard Davies stroked over the penalty from 30 metres to bring Lions back into contention as the referee blew for half time. 

Half time 

Lions    11            Henley            13

A disappointing first half performance by Lions against a limited Henley side.  Certainly Lions looked a pale imitation of the side that had run Rotherham ragged in the second half last week.  Equally, it was hard to see how Henley could have held Exeter to 23 each at half time last week.  However, Lions could not have complained if they had found themselves further behind at the break.  The Shed were hoping that whatever was put into the half time tea against Rotherham was put in again…….only a bigger dosage!! 

Things did not look good as Lions were penalised from the kick off, and with a blustery crossfield wind benefiting Henley, the Shed were getting worried.  Lions looked very disorganised and pedestrian, giving the ball away in promising positions, either with a loose pass to an opponent, or through the ball carrier becoming isolated allowing Henley to steal possession.   

However, most of the play had been in the Henley half, and Lions had the first opportunity to add to their points tally as Henley were penalised.  Unfortunately, Richard Davies pulled his 40 metres kick well wide. 

Jacques Steyn looked to have been struggling with an injury for some time, and eventually hobbled off to be replaced by Cliff Richards who slotted in at fullback, with Richard Davies reverting to fly half.   

Lions now started to look more fluent and purposeful, but lacked that decisive cutting edge.  Mark Edwards appeared to have found the answer as he sliced through from a scrum for what looked a certain score.  However, the referee was not happy with the scrum, and ordered it to be reset. 

Lions drove in again, but a turnover allowed Henley to clear their lines.  Lions now brought on front row replacements, with Marek Kwisiuk (I wonder how many other names you can make out of that!?!?) replacing Pig Brittin, and Tom Woolrich taking over from Phil Greenbury. 

Tristan Prosser-Shaw almost burst clear, and Henley were penalised as they tried to retrieve the situation.  Now it was Lions’ turn to spurn the opportunity of 3 points as they chose instead to kick to the corner.  The throw to the excellent Chris Jones was good, and when the ball was moved left, a poor pass to Phil Reed saw a definate chance go begging. 

It was now incessant pressure from Lions as Chris Jones stole another Henley line, and after several phases of play, Richard Davies was able to squirm his way over for the all important score.  Cliff Richards added an excellent conversion. 

Alistair Newmarch was now replaced in the centre by ‘T’ Fa’atoto Moananu, who has made a welcome return to the club following a brief spell at Doncaster with his brother. 

Lions were now totally dominant, but they were unable to add to their try tally as promising positions were lost through penalties or poor handling.   

A Mark Edwards chip and chase looked promising, but the momentum seemed to be lost as the Henley cover closed in.  However, Lions’ forwards secured good possession, and the ball was moved left to cries of “wrong way” from the Shed as Henley looked to have defenders to spare.  However, Cliff Richards showed perfect balance to scythe through for a lovely try, to which he added the conversion.
	Cliff brushes his man aside to....
	Score a well taken try

Lions now had some breathing space, and Henley were getting desperate.  Another change by Lions saw Tom Walsh replace Mark Edwards at scrum half. 

More penalties against Lions allowed Henley to make a rare visit into Lions’ territory, but crunching tackling in the centre forced the knock on.  Tom Walsh was soon displaying his talents (a new jock strap is called for) as he made a typical break from the base of a scum on half way.  Pete Roberts was on hand to continue the move, and he was unlucky to see his final pass inside taken by Henley. 

With Lions committed to attack, Henley found space on the right to take play up to half way.  Good cover by Lions halted progress, and as Henley moved the ball wide, more thumping Lions’ tackles forced the knock on. 

Another break by Pete Roberts looked promising……what a revalashon  revollation  revolution star he has been since moving to the wing.  His inside pass from the tackle to the supporting Will Pilkington was good, but Lions were penalised for driving over as their progress was stopped. 

Despite there being several injuries during the half, the referee blew for full time bang on 40 minutes (unless we forgot to start the clock as the second half kicked off………as if!!!). 

Final result: 

Lions    25            Rotherham        13

This was by no means a convincing performance by Lions, although it must be remembered that this is a very young side, and a number of key players were missing today.  The priority was to win, and this was achieved, although not very convincingly.  Lions’ again displayed their frustrating ability to pitch a performance dependent on the opposition.  At least this one was pitched just above the opposition rather than just below!! 

Next Friday evening’s visit to Bedford will be a much sterner challenge, but Lions’ have shown that they have the capability to rise to it. Tim Collier will be available to return to the fray, although it is looking doubtful that Steve Smith, Sam Tovo, or Jacques Steyn will be fit enough to play.   

If the team turns in an 80 minute performance under the floodlights like they did in the second half against Rotherham, then Lions could achieve the victory that would almost certainly ensure their First Division status.

Tristan Prosser-Shaw

Lions team

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Henley’s Hawks have been short of prey this season but their kill of a Rugby Lion last October, though welcome to a starving predator was a rare success. It was, without any doubt, Rugby’s worst performance of the season and most of the Lions’supporters who travelled to Henley that day still cannot believe what happened.  

So far this season Henley have squeezed just three wins from the 18 games they have so far played and consequently have what seems to be a firm grasp on last place in the league table. At home their two successes were against Wakefield and Rugby, with games lost to Bedford, Birmingham, Bracknell, Coventry, London Welsh, Moseley, Otley and Worcester. Away from home life has been even bleaker with a solitary one-point win at Manchester. Away losses came at Bedford, Bracknell, Coventry, Exeter, Otley, Rotherham and Worcester. 

In league competition Henley and Rugby have faced each other on just two occasions in ADP2 during 1999/00. The Lions, inspired by newly arrived Welsh fly half Paul Turner, won the game at Dry Leas against all expectation by 14-20, but were later comprehensively beaten on their own turf at Webb Ellis Road by 17-34.  

In spite of being bottom dogs Henley are quite capable of upsetting the applecart of any team who expects them to just roll over. Following their good second half performance against Rotherham, Rugby Lions will have to reproduce that form on Saturday and win the game by demonstrating their superiority.