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Lions displayed all of their
old failings in losing to a poor Moseley side that simply looked to want
to win the game more than Lions did.
Lions were forced to make
changes again due to injuries, with Jacques Steyn coming in at centre to
replace the unlucky James Ogilvie-Bull who has broken a bone in his hand,
whilst Craig Jones stood in at fly half for “Cliff” Richards who was
suffering from a stiff neck. In
the forwards, Phil Greenbury is not yet fully fit, so Richard Mee filled
the breach at prop, Steve Smith came into the second row for the suspended
Tim Collier, and Will Pilkington stood in for Ben Lewitt who scored 2
tries for England Students on Friday night.
Having established base camp by
the car park at Birmingham University, Sherpa Salter and his intrepid band
began the treacherous ascent in search of the elusive Pintus Guinnessicus.
After negotiations with some friendly natives, the missionaries
stumbled across their goal and were able to gain sustenance for the trials
and tribulations ahead. Suitably
replete, the merry band descended the heights by the easier north face
route to take up their position on the foothills overlooking the plain
where battle would commence.
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| Will Pilkington (standing up) about to be penalised
for not staying on his feet!!!!!! |
Lions had the first opportunity
to put points on the board as Moseley were penalised at the first
line-out, but Richard Davies’s 40 metres kick drifted wide.
When Moseley lost the ball
after someone tried to run through Necky Mee (stupid boy!!) and inevitably
came off second best, Lions were awarded a scrum.
Tim Stannard picked up and drove from the base, but found himself
with no support and was penalised for holding on……the tone was set for
the afternoon. The kick took
Moseley into Lions territory, where they were awarded another penalty.
Now it was Leigh Hinton’s turn to pull his 35 metres kick wide.
After concerted Moseley
pressure that Lions did well to repulse, the home side were penalised by
referee Robin Goodliffe for an offence that was signalled with some
exuberant arm waving that brought a chorus of “Doo wah diddy diddy”
from the Moseley supporters. Obviously
they knew something that the travelling Lions’ supporters were not aware
of.
When Lions were penalised
again, Leigh Hinton put the kick to the corner.
Moseley duly won the line-out and moved the ball wide, but a knock
on in the centre spoilt a promising position.
However, Moseley were awarded a free kick at the Lions scrum for a
front row offence. A quick
tap was taken, and after probing left, the ball was swung right for
flanker Duncan White to crash over. Leigh
Hinton missed the relatively simple conversion. ( 5 – 0 ).
Now it was the Lions’
line-out that turned pear shaped. As
players ran back and forth to establish position, sadly they all forgot to
jump for the ball as it was speculatively lobbed in.
Fortunately Moseley managed to knock on to spare Lions’ blushes.
Lions were looking a very
disjointed outfit, and it was Moseley who were playing what little rugby
there was to be seen by the sparse crowd.
When Lions did enjoy a moment of rare possession, Moseley were
penalised and Dicky Davies struck a good 45 metres penalty that just crept
over the bar. ( 5 - 3 ).
Lions were caught offside soon
after the restart as Moseley again exerted pressure, and this time Leigh
Hinton made no mistake with the simple penalty from 25 metres. ( 8 – 3
).
| The referee was starting to
lose patience with the persistent offending from both sides, and when
Moseley number 8 Ian Patten prevented Tommy Walsh from clearing the ball
at a ruck, he was duly shown the yellow card.
Dicky Davies put Lions in front for the first time with the well
struck penalty from 40 metres. ( 8 – 9 ).
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Necky about to show Patten the way
to the bin |
Straight from the kick off
Tristan Prosser-Shaw burst through and found Craig Jones in support.
The ball was worked out to Phil Reed on the wing, but the Moseley
defence held firm as he cut inside. However,
Moseley were penalised as Lions exerted pressure, and with a numerical
advantage, this time Lions opted to kick to the corner.
Again Lions wasted a golden opportunity at the line-out as this
time the throw was not straight and Moseley were able to clear.
Ian Patten returned to the fray
to drive Moseley forward, and as half time approached they should have
scored following a good break from Leigh Hinton, but the final pass was
knocked on with the line open.
Half time
Moseley
8
Lions
9
Lions tried to liven things up
by bringing on Tom Woolrich to replace Necky Mee at prop, and Marek
Kwisiuk replaced Pig Brittin at hooker to try and improve the dreadful
line-out work of the first half.
Lions certainly started
impressively……well, more impressively than the first half, but then it
wouldn’t have taken much. Moseley
were soon on the back foot and were penalised 45 metres out.
Unfortunately Dicky Davies got underneath his kick and it fell just
short
Lions had not learned their
lesson from the first half, and were soon conceding more penalties.
Tim Stannard for holding on plus two offsides gave Leigh Hinton the
opportunity to put Moseley back in front, and this time he made no
mistake. ( 11 – 9).
Now things were really starting
to get boring, as again Lions conceded ground with penalties, for first
driving over at the ruck, and then handling in the ruck.
A further 10 metres for dissent allowed Leigh Hinton to stretch
Moseley’s lead with a simple kick. (14 – 9 ).
Lions' tale of woe continued as
they conspired to lose possession when they tried to drive on.
Moseley were awarded yet another penalty in the ruck.
However, Chris Jones was lucky not to suffer serious injury in the
incident as he had his head unceremoniously stamped on (see below).
The touch judge intervened, but after discussions with the referee,
no action was taken against Moseley and the penalty stood.
| Moseley
No 6 - stamps on Chris Jones head, this was just in front of the
linesman who took no action!!! |
 |
|
 |
| about
to stamp |
|
right
on the head |
|
A
video of this incident is available from Rugby Lions Supporters Club |
After another nondescript
passage of play, Moseley were penalised for handling in the ruck and Dicky
Davies planted the kick between the posts. ( 14 – 12 ).
Lions were at last showing some
urgency in their play, and a good break by Tristan Prosser-Shaw saw Pete
Roberts make good ground. The
forwards arrived in force, and Tommy Walsh broke down the short side to be
driven over, but could not ground the ball.
Surely Lions would engineer
something from the resultant 5 metres scrum.
As the ball was held in the second row, Lions were penalised for
another front row offence, and duly marched back another 10 metres for
questioning the decision.
Fergie Gladstone replaced Will
Pilkington for Lions, but it was Moseley who were looking the most likely
to score. A break by Paul
Dineen almost woke the crowd up, but good Lions’ tackling prevented a
score. Another change for Lions saw Forrest Field replace Steve
Smith who had looked to be carrying his injured shoulder all game.
The next score was all
important, and unfortunately it went to Moseley with a neat drop goal. (
17 – 12 ).
With time running out, Lions
were awarded a penalty and opted to kick for goal.
Dicky Davies’s 40 metres kick struck the post and came out, but
Moseley knocked on as they attempted to clear.
Another close in scrum to Lions…….surely this time they would
take advantage. The ball was
duly won, but when it was moved wide a wild pass saw the ball sail into
touch and another chance went begging.
With a last roll of the dice,
Lions brought on evergreen Eddie Saunders to weave his magic, but alas it
was all too late. Even so, in
a frantic finish Lions had chances to snatch the game, but poor handling
in the backs allowed Moseley to clear their lines.
The Lions’ afternoon was
summed up as with the final play of the game, Lions were awarded yet
another close in scrum. Tim
Stannard picked up from the base, but Lions were penalised as they drove
in, and as the ball was planted into touch, the referee blew for full
time.
Final result:
Moseley
17
Lions
12
A poor game between two poor
teams presided over by a poor referee.
All in all a very frustrating afternoon for the travelling Lions’
faithful who were expecting, and deserved, something more.
Instead of sitting comfortably in mid-table, Lions will now be
playing the remainder of their games looking over their shoulders.
If they continue to play like they did today, it is difficult to
see where they will manage to get any points from at all, even for losing
by less than 8 points. What
we don’t want is for the last game of the season against Bracknell to be
the match that decides who stays up.
It would be easy to blame a
poor referee for this loss, but Lions have only themselves to blame.
Let’s look at the evidence:
-
too many line-outs lost as players ran round in ever decreasing
circles with the ball being thrown to none of them.
-
possession at scrums lost on our own put in as the ball was held in
the second row giving the opposition time to shove us off it or turn us.
-
players becoming isolated at the breakdown resulting in penalties
for holding on or driving over as players arrived late.
-
passes not going to hand or being given to the opposition.
-
no-one hitting the ball at pace in order to at least get over the
gain line.
-
no-one straightening the line to give the attack some momentum.
-
far too many penalties!!!!!!!
It is not rocket
science……it is all basic stuff. The
frustrating thing is that the players have proved that they have the
capability to get all of these things right.
Unfortunately they seem totally incapable of getting them all right
together over an 80 minute period.
Next week we visit our old
rivals at Coventry, and unless ideas are bucked up we will be staring a
big defeat in the face. The
supporters who have backed the team through thick and thin this season
deserve better than this. Past
deficiencies can be forgiven if we can just secure a victory against the
old enemy. Not only would it
more than likely secure 1st Division status for next year, but
it would make the whole season worthwhile!! |
