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A “never say die” performance by a depleted Lions side brought pride back to the club after last week’s poor effort.  Every player who took the pitch gave 110% against a strong table-topping Rotherham side.  They can hold their heads high despite conceding 48 points that flattered the home team. 

An already depleted pack that had two number 8’s in the second row was further hit when prop Phil Greenbury had to drop out with a knee injury.  Bennett Smith took over in the front row leaving the bench somewhat bare! 

After leaving a sunny and warm Rugby, it was depressing to be stood in an overcast and very damp Rotherham as Craig Jones, making his first start at fly half for Lions, kicked off straight into touch.  Just what we didn’t want.  After seeing the pack shoved all over the place last week, how would this week’s 8 fare against a big Rotherham outfit.  No problem!!  The set piece was as solid as a rock, and even had Rotherham going backwards on their own put in. 

Lions were soon going forward as Rotherham were penalised for holding on, and Lions drove in hard, recycling the ball to good effect.  The next scrum saw Lions penalised with hooker Marek Kwisiuk singled out by the referee for a good talking to. 

Now it was the Rotherham forwards’ turn to drive in, but they were met with some determined Lions’ tackling.     

Further scrums showed just how solid the Lions’ pack was, and to complement this, Paul Thompson and Tim Stannard were looking superb in the lineout, winning their own ball with ease, and even taking a couple on Rotherham’s throw.

When Lions were penalised in mid-field, a kick to the corner set up Rotherham’s first real attacking opportunity.  A good take at the line saw the ball moved along the backs with a crash ball being dealt with by solid Lions’ tackling in the shadow of their posts.  Unfortunately, Lions were penalised at the breakdown, and Ramirc Pez slotted the simple kick. 

Lions were soon on the back foot again as Rotherham started to open up the game, but an excellent tackle by Fa’atoto Moananu halted them in their tracks.  Rotherham had Lions scrambling to clear their lines following a neat kick through, but more good work at the lineout saw Lions steal the ball to deny a further score. 

However, this was short lived as Rotherham showed what they were capable of with some good hands, strong running, and excellent backing up.  Lions’ tackling was resolute, but they simply ran out of men as John Cannon powered over for Rotherham’s first try.  Pez’s conversion hit the post and bounced out. 

A knock on by Rotherham from the kick off gave Lions the scrum, but again they were penalised by the referee, allowing Rotherham to set up another attacking lineout.  Again Lions denied them with another steal on Rotherham’s throw. 

More big hits by a determined Lions kept Rotherham at bay, and when Lions got possession, a lovely kick to the corner by Craig Jones saw Jordan Hands follow up at pace to bundle the Rotherham full back into touch to gain the throw in at the line.  Another good take had the forwards driving in, but when the ball was moved to the backs, a planned move looked to have been thwarted by a Rotherham knock on.  However, the referee allowed play to go on and Rotherham’s second row Dan Cook attempted to kick to safety.  The kick was a poor one, going nowhere near touch.  Unfortunately, as Fa’atoto Moananu looked to retrieve the kick, a wicked bounce took the ball away from him and straight into the arms of an onrushing Rotherham player who gleefully sprinted 75 metres to touch down for an extremely lucky try.  Pez’s superb touchline conversion compounded the misery for Lions. 

This was a cruel blow to a Lions’ team that was giving everything, but they refused to buckle.  The spirit was typified by a crunching tackle from Tristan Prosser-Shaw who was again leading by example. 

Another unkindly bounce saw a long kick by Rotherham trickle into touch by the corner flag, but again a terrific defensive line-out by Lions saw the danger cleared.  Lions’ possession saw the forwards driving in well, with good recycling allowing several phases of play to be set up.  However, Rotherham’s defence was firm, and Lions were eventually held up to concede the put in at the scrum.  Not only was the Lions’ scrum looking far more solid than it had done all season, but they now proceeded to push Rotherham back and wheel the scrum to gain the put in.  Excellent stuff. 

Rotherham had been playing very close to the offside line for much of the game without being penalised, despite constantly being told by the Lions’ travelling fans (all 2 of us, plus Tristan’s Mum and a friend who travelled down from Durham!!).  At last the referee spotted the infringement, and Craig Jones stepped up to put the ball between the posts from 35 metres for Lions’ first points. 

Lions were tackling like demons, but missed clearance kicks to touch allowed Rotherham to keep up the pressure.  Again there was no way through, and good attacking play by Lions took play into the Rotherham half, but there was no way through a solid Rotherham defence. 

As half time approached, a long speculative kick by Rotherham’s Mike Schmid stopped a yard from Lions’ line, forcing Fa’atoto Moananu to make a hurried clearance in the face of the onrushing Rotherham backs.  A good take and drive was held up by Lions at the expense of a 5-metre scrum.  When the ball was moved wide, John Shepherd took what looked like a forward pass at pace to crash over by the posts.  Pez added the conversion. 

There was just time for Craig Jones to fire a drop goal attempt for Lions well wide before the referee blew for half time.   

Half time 

Rotherham            22            Lions            3

The fly half made amends with a lovely kick to the corner, and when Lions again stole the ball at the lineout, good work almost saw Ian Hyde over, but he was held inches short.  Unfortunately Lions were penalised at the breakdown for driving over, and Rotherham were able to clear their lines. 

Rotherham’s big pack was starting to take its toll on the Lions tacklers, and 2 penalties allowed Rotherham to set up camp in the Lions’ 22.  A good take and drive at the attacking line saw the pack drive Neil Spence over for the next Rotherham score.  Pez again added the conversion. 

Now came the moment the Rotherham supporters had been waiting for……..the introduction of Alfie!!  He joined the fray as replacement for Russell Earnshaw.  He soon showed why he is adored by the Rotherham faithful as he put in a couple of big hits, but Lions almost came away with a lovely break by Craig Jones, but he lost the ball in the tackle to halt the momentum.   

Rotherham were soon back on the attack, and Marek Kwisiuk was rather harshly dealt with as he was yellow carded for not rolling away from the tackle.  Now short of a hooker, Lions were forced to bring on Jason Brittin in place of flanker Will Pilkington.  Rotherham immediately looked to make their man advantage count as they tapped the penalty to the corner.  The take was good, but this time the ball was moved wide, but Lions’ tackling was hard and true. 

As the ball was swung back crossfield, wing Stuart Dixon had to cut inside to take a poor pass off his toes.  The Lion’ defence was completely wrongfooted as the wing dived over for the try.  Pez added the conversion to put Rotherham well in the driving seat, but there was no sign of any Lions’ heads going down. 

Alfie was making good yardage with some storming runs from the centre position as he stayed out of most of Rotherham’s lineouts.  It will be very interesting if he tries the same ploy with a fully fit Sam Tovo waiting to greet him!!  Worth the entrance money on its own! 

Ramirc Pez then showed his class with a classic fly half break to put the supporting John Cannon in for a simple try.  To gasps from the crowd, Pez missed the conversion. 

Still Lions stuck to their task as Rotherham piled on the pressure.  The ball was moved wide to the left, but the Lions’ tacklers were in no mood to concede more points.  As the ball was swung back right, a score looked on until Jordan Hands produced a try saving tackle to bundle his man into touch by the corner flag. 

With Paul Shadbolt now going off, Tom Woolrich Tom Woolrich came on to make up the front row with Marek Kwisiuk and Jason Brittin.  The Lions’ scrum inevitably lost some of its stability, and Rotherham were able to disrupt several Lions’ scrums to gain the put in. 

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Norpera Stewart, who enjoyed a solid game at fullback in his first start in a Lions’ jersey, was replaced by Toby Bainbridge-Kay, who went onto the wing with Fa’atoto Moananu reverting to fullback. 

Lions were in no mood to roll over and concede 50 points, and more enterprising play by the backs almost saw Jordan Hands away, but he was hauled down from behind.  A superb jinking run by Fa’atoto Moananu down the middle of the pitch set up another good position, but this was lost as Lions were penalised for driving over. 

The Lions’ spirit was typified in the dying seconds as Rotherham’s number 8 Mike Schmid was put in the clear down the wing.  25 metres out and going like a steam train, you could have forgiven Lions for thinking that the game was already lost, so why bother……but they were having none of it.  A superb cover tackle by Tristan Prosser-Shaw, aided and abetted by the ever-reliable Jason Brittin, saw the flying Rotherham man smashed into touch by the corner flag. 

 This was the last act in an absorbing game as the referee brought proceedings to a close. 

Final result: 

Rotherham             48            Lions            3

This was an excellent performance by a depleted Lions’ side in which every single man can be proud of his contribution.  There is no doubt that Rotherham deserved their win, but Lions did not deserve to lose by such a margin. 

No one should be dispirited by this result.  It is back to the league next week and the crucial game at Henley.  Whoever dons the Lions’ jersey needs to do so with the pride and commitment shown by the team today.  The rest will surely follow.

Paul Thompson

Lions team

Thursday night

Even before Rugby’s abysmal performance against Birmingham & Solihull the prospect of a cup tie at Rotherham was not a happy one for supporters whose memories of past visits to Clifton lane are not exactly associated with ecstasy..

Last season Rotherham had the unusual (for them) experience of being a smallish fish in a very large pond but that has not dampened their enthusiasm to return to the Premiership and their parachute assisted campaign received a significant boost last Saturday when Rugby’s neighbours, Coventry turned Worcester’s season upside down. Rotherham, who had lost to Worcester at Sixways visited Bracknell and took away the expected five points to head the table three points ahead of Exeter who pushed Worcester into third place.  

With a now crucial league game at Henley on October 20^th and the injury situation continuing to frustrate team selection the cup-tie at Rotherham has to be regarded as a damage limitation exercise, but however the game is approached the team must cut out the unforced errors that ruined the game against Birmingham.