| It was not to be a winning send off
for Paul Turner in his last game in charge of the Lions' before his move
to Gloucester. Rugby conceded too many penalties and lost too many of
their own lineouts to let their superiority or skill count.
Early on Rugby defended well to thwart
Manchester's attacks through their own muscular midfield. But when Rugby
themselves advanced, a knock on cost them a good position.
Lions pack were never quite a match for their
opponents, leading to slow or poor ball for Walsh to deal with.
On 9 minutes, Davies missed a very kickable
penalty, 29 metres from the posts with the wind at his back. In contrast
on 19 minutes, after Manchester had stolen a Rugby lineout,
Griffiths stroked over a 22 metre kick in to the wind.
There was some very aimless play, such as when a
series of kicks failed to find their intended touch Davies did look the
class act kicking from hand but Lions' play was not slick enough for
points to follow and Davies was reduced to a rather weak drop goal attempt
from near halfway.
| When Potter missed his tackle,
Leulia broke away
and fed blood replacement Smith for a try on 29 minutes which Griffiths
converted expertly. |
|
|
|
Former Rugby Lions' no 8 Dave Muckalt twice
combined with Greenlees to threaten the Lion's line. The half ended,
however with an unexpected try from dynamic Lions prop Tom Woolrich which
Davies converted to leave Rugby with everything to play for, 10 - 7 down
at the interval. |
Both sides looked a little sharper on their
handling as the second half started. A pass and a chip back just evaded
Jordan hands after his introduction at the turnaround. Manchester attacked
immediately and Griffiths kicked a 46th minute penalty to stretch his
sides lead to 13 - 7.
Rugby lifted their game with a series of forceful
runs before a head high tackle on Gladstone raised temperatures on both
sides.
| Manchester conceded a penalty which Davies kicked
for a 5 metre lineout. Two more home infringements and Rugby had a penalty
try, Davies' conversion taking Lions ahead for the first (and only) time
with the last quarter still to play. |
|
Manchester went in front again 5 minutes later
when Griffiths kicked a simple penalty.
A Rugby attack was aborted for a crooked throw,
one of several the ref penalised when he wasn't objecting to Lion's
jumping early or delaying the throw.
When Lions were caught looking to make a routine
defensive pass Griffiths kicked his 4th penalty for 19 - 14.
Rugby looked to gain the hard yards with a series
of drives but lost any advantage with a simple knock on.
|
|
Despite the best efforts of Phil Reed twice
rounding his man on the right wing the last score went to Manchester with
Griffiths kicking another penalty. |
| ....... and the Turner era
was over. |
|
