Otley

Lions

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At last Lions gave their faithful supporters something to cheer about as they delivered 4 points for a hard earned win, a bonus point for scoring four tries, and the irrepressible Eddie Saunders scored his 100^th League try.  However, Lions had to withstand a frantic final 10 minutes, but managed to hang on for a well deserved victory that ensures there will be First Division Rugby at Webb Elllis Road next season.  Bring on Woody and his Quins!! 

Lions were able to select from strength this week with several players returning from injury.  Stuart Potter started at centre, Phil Greenbury was back in the front row, and Chris Jones made a welcome return at lock. 

The match started at a frenetic pace, with both sides throwing the ball about, but neither really making much headway.  Lions’ tackling looked sharp as Otley’s big forwards drove in.  Simon Binns’ positional kick was ill-judged as it flew out on the full for a Lions’ line on half way.  However, Wayne “babyface” Barnes awarded a penalty against Lions for what looked like talking out of turn.  Otley put the ball to touch and attacked from the resultant line-out.  Lions repulsed the first wave of attacks, but then Binns put through a speculative kick.  Tristan Prosser-Shaw looked to have the ball well covered, but it somehow squirmed from his grasp to gift a try to Mark Kirkby.  Simon Binns added the conversion from wide out.  ( 7 – 0 ).   

Otley were able to clear from the resultant scrum under their own posts, and were quickly deep in Lions’ territory with some good ball recycling and excellent positional kicking by Simon Binns.  When Lions were penalised in repulsing an attack, Simon Binns stepped up to convert the easy kick.  What should have been 7 points at one end of the field ended up as 3 points at the other end!!!  ( 10 – 7 ). 

Lions were finding the gaps in the Otley defence, and another half break by the irrepressible Dicky Davies put Phil Reed in the clear.  He almost beat Ian Shuttleworth, but as the fullback hung on to Reedo’s ankle, the scrum half was deemed to be held and was penalised for not releasing the ball.   

Now it was Otley’s turn to attack, and good hands gave them room on the right where Will Darby went round his man, but there was a knock on as the ball was worked back inside.  Otley were penalised at the scrum, but Dicky Davies’s long kick did not find touch.  However, Otley were again penalised in the face of excellent Lions tackling as they tried to run the ball back.  Unfortunately Cliff Richards’ 40 metres kick drifted just wide.

Tim Stannard took a lovely catch under pressure from the 22 metres drop out, and powered in.  The forwards set up the position, and Lions looked to have men over as they moved the ball wide, but a poor last pass to Cliff Richards meant that he had to slow down to take it, and the cover managed to bundle him into touch in the corner.     

Lions were soon on the attack from the restart, and Otley were again penalised.  This time Cliff Richards’ 45 metres kick was beautifully struck as it sailed between the posts. ( 10 – 17 ). 

When Lions were penalised for not rolling clear at the tackle, Simon Binns sent a well judged kick into the corner.  Otley took the line and powered in, and Lions’s infringed in trying to stifle the attack.  Simon Binns converted the simple penalty from the 22 metres line.  ( 13 – 17 ). 

A blind-side break by Otley again put Will Darby in the clear, but a crunching tackle by Cliff Richards stopped him in his tracks.  Lions were now under some pressure, and when they found their own scrum going backwards at a great rate of knots, Otley secured the ball, but Andy Brown was unable to control it at the base and Pete Roberts hacked on.  Ian Shuttleworth did well to race across and shepherd the ball into touch by the corner flag.  Lions attacked from the line-out, but when the ball was moved wide, a poor pass was intercepted and kicked long downfield by Otley.  Eddie Saunders raced back to clear the danger, but Otley now had an attacking line-out, from which Simon Binns dropped a neat goal.  Another occasion when what should have been a Lions’ score ended up with points on the board for Otley!! (16 – 17 ). 

Jacques Steyn took a hard double tackle as he sought another break, and had to leave the field looking decidedly groggy.  Matt Tassel replaced him in the centre.  Lions were now looking for a score just before half time.  Several forward drives were repulsed, but Lions were retaining possession well.  A ruck wide on the right saw Phil Reed somewhere deep inside it, so versatile Eddie Saunders took up the scrum half role.  He immediately did his Moses impression to part the Otley defence like the Red Sea and scoot in behind the posts.  This was Eddies’ 100^th League try, and there was no hiding the delight on the great man’s face.  Cliff Richards added the simple conversion as the referee’s whistle signalled half time.   

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Magic moment.....100 league tries		then.......Swan Lake comes to Otley

Half time 

Otley    16            Lions            24

Lions had enjoyed a good first half performance with some solid defence and some excellent attacking play.  In addition, 3 tries put them well on the way to an all important bonus point. 

However, the second half did not start too well, as a series of penalties saw Otley firmly planted in Lions’ half.  When Lions were caught offside, Simon Binns teed up the 35 metres penalty.  The kick looked good, but came back off a post and Lions were caught napping.  The follow up to the kick was swift by Otley, and they secured possession from the rebound 5 metres from Lions’ line.  The ball was quickly moved wide where a good tap pass in the centre gave wing Will Darby the room he needed to squeeze over in the corner.  Simon Binns’ touchline conversion was wide.  ( 21 – 24 ). 

Otley were right back in the game, and Lions were finding it difficult to establish any rhythm this half.  A Dicky Davies kick to the corner was well retrieved by Otley, and a long clearance kick had Eddie Saunders running the ball back at Otley.  Unfortunately, Lions were penalised at the ruck and Simon Binns stepped up to convert the penalty from 35 metres.  All square and all to play for!!  ( 24 – 24 ). 

Otley were enjoying most of the possession this half, and Lions frustration started to show with a string of penalties against them.  The last of these saw the ball planted firmly in the corner by Simon Binns.  The line-out take was good, and Otley drove relentlessly for the line.  However, Lions were in no mood to concede the lead, and determined tackling forced the error and a penalty.  Dicky Davies cleared to the relief of the travelling supporters.   

Otley now made several replacements, and Lions also took the opportunity.  Glen Carson came on for Bennett Smith, Pig Brittin replaced the excellent Marek Kwisiuk, and Steve Smith took up the number 8 role, with Tim Stannard moving to lock in place of Chris Jones.   

Unfortunately, Lions were immediately penalised from the restart……another strange decision from Wayne Barnes, most of which were not accompanied by any form of recognisable signals, which proved somewhat frustrating to the anxious Lions’ supporters.  Simon Binns duly planted the ball between the posts.  ( 27 – 29 ). 

Tim Collier was hurt in the incident, and hobbled off in some pain to be replaced by Will Pilkington, with Steve Smith moving to lock.  Lions were now somewhat outweighed in the pack, and Otley’s forwards were starting to put some ominous drives together.  However, Lions’ tackling was hard and true……and it needed to be.  Several attacks were repulsed, before a penalty brought Lions some respite. 

With the minutes ticking away, Otley launched another attack out wide.  The first line of defence was breached, and as the Lions’ supporters held their breath and crossed their fingers, legs, and eyes, the cover caught up and the inside pass went to ground.  The Lions’ scrum found itself being driven backwards over its own line, but the ball was hurriedly cleared, but only as far as Otley’s Ian Shuttleworth 40 metres out.  He lined himself up for the drop goal, but his attempt was short and wide. 

Otley were now in dominant mood, but Lions’ mood was equally determined.  Superb defence held up two powerful Otley drives, but Lions were penalised for their efforts.  Otley kicked to the corner, and again their forwards drove in.  The referee deemed that Lions again illegally stopped the drive, and Tim Stannard was duly despatched to the sin-bin.  Lions were now really up against it.  They were already heavily outweighed in the pack, but now had to play out the last few minutes with 14 men. 

There was much chewing of nails and tearing of hair amongst the Lions’ supporters as the penalty was tapped to the corner.  Another take and drive at the line saw some heroic tackling from Lions that forced Otley to move the ball wide.  More sighs of relief for Lions as the Otley backs were penalised for crossing and Lions cleared to half way.   

Final result: 

Otley    32            Lions            36

What more is there to say??  At last Lions turned in a performance that was above some very good opposition.  It was full of fire and commitment, ably lead by Tristan Prosser-Shaw who seemed to be everywhere, both in attack and defence.  But every man out there played his part, and Lions can now look forward to another season in Division 1.  But first there is the matter of Bracknell, who now are doomed to relegation and have nothing to play for but pride.  Lions can now go into this last game in two week’s time with no worries on their shoulders.  Let’s put a performance together that the supporters will remember.  We know it’s in there somewhere ‘cos we’ve seen glimpses of it at various stages of the season.  Let’s see it for a full 80 minutes and show people just what you are capable of.  

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...Tiny Tim on the rampage		....a sad end to his season, lets hope we see him wearing the Lions shirts again next season

Eddie Saunders -  101 league tries 

Tristan Prosser-Shaw + Great team effort

Ps Happy birthday to Mr Prosser-Shaw senior 

Lions team

In the last two games against top of the table opposition, although losing both without even the consolation of a bonus point, Rugby Lions showed improving form. Next Saturday they play their penultimate league game against seventh-placed Otley and, provided the improvement is maintained, they must have at least an even chance of securing victory, thereby enabling their stressed-out supporters to relax at the final home game against Bracknell. 

Due to the ups and downs of Otley and Rugby in the league system this will be the Lions first visit to Otley since September 1997 when both clubs were in Jewson National Division 1 (now National Division2). During the 1980s rare visits to Otley had failed to yield a victory and it was not until 1995 that a first win was obtained. By a quirk of circumstance Rugby and Otley were drawn to play each other in a Pilkington Cup tie at Cross Green on the Saturday following their league meeting at the same venue. Otley won the first encounter by a single point but Lions came out top in the high-scoring cup game. Rugby also won the 1997 game by 3-22 when Eddie Saunders, the sole survivor of the Lions team of that day, twice crossed the Otley line. 

Otley’s home record is; won seven, lost four and drawn one. Victors at Cross green were Rotherham, Worcester, Coventry and, surprisingly, Manchester. Moseley managed to draw their game but Bedford, Birmingham, Bracknell, Exeter, Henley, London Welsh and Wakefield all lost. Away from home Otley have won four and lost eight. Their happy hunting grounds were at Bedford, Bracknell, Henley and Moseley, but they lost out at Birmingham, Coventry, London Welsh, Manchester (a double!), Rotherham, Rugby, Wakefield and Worcester. 

Go for it Lions!

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