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Lions
took full advantage of a strong wind at their backs to rattle up 4 tries
and secure a bonus point before half time.
A committed second half performance, with the wind and rain in
their faces, then saw Lions restrict the Manchester score to secure a well
deserved victory and maximum points.
With
both Steve Smith and James Ogilvie-Bull suffering from hamstring injuries,
and Jacques Steyn feeling the effects of several games after his long
layoff with a broken ankle, Tim Stannard took the number eight slot with
Alistair Newmarch, the Cambridge University Blue, making his Lions debut
in the centre.
Richard
Davies’s long kick off saw Manchester running the ball out of defence,
but Lions showed that they were in no mood to concede ground, and solid
tackling forced the knock on. A
pick up and drive from the base of the scrum by Tim Stannard saw
Manchester concede a penalty, and up stepped “Cliff” Richards to
strike the ball confidently in the swirling wind to give Lions just the
start they were looking for.
A
long kick by Richard Davies saw Manchester fullback Marcus Barrow misjudge
the flight of the ball and fumble it into touch for a Lions line-out.
After the dismal line-out performance against Exeter, how would
things go this week in very difficult conditions?
The throw to Tim Collier was good and the tap back to Tristan
Prosser-Shaw executed well. Lions
pack drove on with “Tiny” Tim Collier to the fore.
When the ball was released, Richard Davies and Tristan Prosser-Shaw
gave Cliff Richards the opportunity to make the extra man and his slick
final pass saw Pete Roberts with a simple run in for Lions’ first try.
Again, Cliff Richards’ kick was straight and true as he added the
conversion.
A
series of penalties against Lions had Manchester taking a line-out in the
clubhouse corner, but Lions prevented them from releasing the ball to gain
the put in at the scrum. Lions’
set piece looked more solid than in recent weeks, but Manchester scrum
half Paul Thompson managed to disrupt Lions’ possession to gain a 5
metres scrum. Having set up
the position, Paul Thompson now rubbed salt into the wound as he broke
blind and wriggled his way through two tackles to squirm over in the
corner. Marcus Barrow’s
conversion attempt was pulled well wide.
Confident
running by the Manchester backs and good recycling by their forwards saw
them making ground into Lions’ territory. Again Manchester drove in, but
a turnover gave Cliff Richards the opportunity to plant a kick very firmly
back into the opposition half. Lions
were awarded a free kick for delaying the put in to the line, and Tristan
Prosser-Shaw was stopped in his tracks by a high tackle as he burst
forward. Unfortunately the straight kick from 30 metres was pushed
wide by Cliff Richards, as the strong wind took its toll.
A
clever drop out by Manchester saw them retain possession, and when Lions
were penalised again, Mr. Ashton-Jones’ patience had run out as he
showed Tristan Prosser-Shaw the yellow card for killing the ball on the
floor. When Manchester tried
to run the ball clear, a thumping tackle by Stuart Potter enabled Lions to
steal the ball, allowing Richard Davies to put another lovely kick to the
corner. The throw was not
straight, and a couple of forward drives from the resultant scrum sucked
the Manchester defence in, and when the ball was spun wide, Sam Tovo was
on hand to burst through the final tackle and register Lions;’ second
try. Cliff Richards’
conversion attempt from wide out again drifted wide.
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Manchester
attempted to get strong running wing Afi Leuila into the action down the
centre of the park, but Lion’s tackling was again too strong.
Manchester number eight Matt Lacey then stood all over Phil Reed as
the winger effected a tackle, but with Lions pointing out the misdemeanour,
Mr. Ashton-Jones chose to penalise them for an offence that he did not
signal.
Manchester
duly won the line-out, but with the pack going nowhere, the ball was spun
wide, only for the Manchester backs to be hit by determined tackling that
resulted in a turnover, and the trusty boot of Richard Davies took play
fully 75 metres into the Manchester 22.
More
excellent tackling by Lions saw Manchester try a short kick over the top,
but Cliff Richards was on hand to retrieve and burst through a huge gap in
midfield. Phil Reed was in
support, but could not quite evade the last line of defence. This time it was Manchester’s turn to be penalised in the
ruck, and Richard Davies planted the kick firmly into the corner.
Tim
Collier rose to claim the line, and Lions drove forward to earn a scrum 5
metres from the Manchester line. Good
recycling by Lions eventually saw the ball worked wide to Phil Reed, and
the winger made no mistake as he took a difficult pass to dive over in the
corner. Cliff Richards’
conversion attempt was pushed wide.
A
steal by Phil Reed in the tackle on halfway saw the wing launch a kick
deep into the Manchester 22, and his swift follow up, aided and abetted by
Tom Walsh, had Manchester scrambling the ball into touch. Lions now had a fourth try and a bonus point very firmly in
their sites, and it was not long in coming.
Another good catch by Tim Collier saw the pack drive over for
Tristan Prosser-Shaw to claim the touchdown.
Again Cliff Richards’ kick was off target in the blustery
conditions.
Manchester
strove to close the gap, but the referee’s whistle blew for half time
with Lions enjoying a commanding lead.
Half
time
Lions
25
Manchester
5
Lions
had used the strong wind to good effect in the first half, but now had the
elements in their faces. However,
things were going well…..the line-out was a vast improvement on the
Exeter game, the scrum looked more solid than it has done all season, and
the tackling was hard and effective.
Manchester
started in determined style, but when the ball was moved wide, wing Simon
Baker was unable to hold a long pass from flanker James White, and Lions
were able to show their tactics with some strong taking and driving by the
forwards.
Equally,
Manchester’s strategy was abundantly clear as their long, wind assisted
kicks peppered the corners. From
a Manchester line in the Lions’ 22 following a penalty, Tim Collier was
adjudged to be offside as he disrupted their attempts to build a platform,
and he looked on incredulously as the referee showed him the yellow card.
The signs were ominous as Manchester took the line and their pack
rumbled forward, but jeers turned to cheers as Mr. Ashton-Jones decided to
exercise his other arm and penalised Manchester for not releasing the ball
in the tackle.
The
Lions’ pack, minus Tiny Tim, drove Manchester back 20 metres in
impressive style. Tom Walsh
kept the momentum going with a typical sniping run down the blind side to
set up a Lions’ scrum. The
ball was moved wide in confident style, but unfortunately Cliff Richards
spilled the ball as he joined the line at pace, and Manchester were able
to hack clear.
Cliff
Richards did well to deal with an awkwardly bouncing kick from Manchester,
but Richard Davies’s clearance kick made little headway against the wind
and rain. Manchester tried to
find gaps in Lions’ defence, but it was like trying to find Osama Bin
Laden in his cave complex, as time and again attackers were knocked
backwards by big hits. When
Manchester tried to move the ball wide, a poor pass enabled Pete Roberts
to intercept and set up the position for Richard Davies to clear well to
touch as Tim Collier returned to bolster Lions’ pack.
Lions
were soon under pressure again as a double dummy by fly half Matt Leyden
saw him bursting through midfield. A
solid tackle by Cliff Richards stopped him in the Lions’ 22, but Lions
were again penalised in the ruck. Marcus
Barrow made no mistake with the kick from 25 metres just to the left of
the posts.
Lions
now brought on fresh legs, as Mark Edwards, making a welcome return to
Lions after playing such an important part in last year’s promotion
drive, replaced Tom Walsh at scrum half, and Paul Shadbolt took over from
Phil Greenbury in the front row.
Lions
were soon on the attack as a Richard Davies drop goal attempt was knocked
off course, but Manchester still had to scramble the ball into touch 5
metres from their own line. Tim Collier took a good line out ball, but
lost it as he appeared to have his legs taken from under him. The inevitable long kick to the corner followed, and Lions
conceded another scrum as they tried to drive away after a successful
line-out. Manchester worked
the ball right, and then left, and Simon Baker was almost in, but his chip
to the line was just too strong and rolled dead.
| Lions
made excellent ground from the drop out with some storming forward
play, ably led by Tim Collier with some good ball distribution and
prompting from Mark Edwards. Unfortunately
the good work was wasted as Lions were penalised for handling in the
ruck. |
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Back
came Lions again, only to be penalised once more, this time for not
releasing the ball in the tackle. This time there was no stopping
Manchester as with 2 minutes remaining, a concerted spell of pressure from
their forwards eventually saw them claim the touchdown.
The scorer was ex-Lion Dave Muckalt who signed for Manchester this
season after moving there with his job.
Marcus Barrow’s conversion attempt from wide out on the right was
narrowly wide.
Lions
almost registered another try on the stroke of full time.
Sam Tovo made the break in midfield, and his pass to the supporting
Pete Roberts saw the wing haring for the line, only to be recalled for a
forward pass. Video evidence
suggests that the decision was wrong. Not to worry, the next whistle was
the final one, and Lions had secured a maximum 5 points whilst denying
Manchester a bonus point by the margin of victory.
Final
result:
Lions
25
Manchester
13
This
was a fully deserved victory for Lions reflecting a committed performance
by the whole team. The 5
points secured lifts Lions above both Moseley and Manchester into
mid-table. Lions can now
approach next week’s game at Birmingham Solihull with renewed optimism,
although there is no place for complacency.
Lions
have a point to prove next week after a poor performance in the
corresponding home fixture. A win would narrow the gap on Birmingham
Solihull who now sit just above Lions with a 7 point advantage.
This should also put the team in the right spirit to tackle high
flying Rotherham the following week. |
