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The Lions’ supporters (all 8
of us) who made the long, slow trip up the M6 saw Lions score an
unconvincing win against a committed Sedgley Park team.
With unlimited substitutions allowed, Lions took the opportunity to
give most of the squad a run out, which undoubtedly contributed to the
disjointed performance, but which could not be held fully responsible for
a team that looked totally without shape in either attack or defence.
Lions started strongly and were
soon attacking the Park line, but the home side showed that they were not
simply there as cannon fodder with some determined defence.
Lions were winning most of the lines, but were conceding good
positions with needless penalties. A
typical Tim Collier take and drive following a penalty to the corner
almost saw Paul Shadbolt force his way over.
A Park prop was deemed to have illegally killed the ball and was
duly sin binned for his efforts, despite despairing please of “What have
I done?”. Lions’
forwards’ coach, Richard Cockerill, pointed out the error of his ways in
his usual calm and collective manner.
Lions were not to be denied,
and another take by Tim Collier close to the Park line saw the pack drive
forward, and there was Tim to peel off and crash over for the opening
score. Fly half Richard
Davies, who showed some promising touches, missed the conversion from wide
out.
Lions attacked again from the
kick off, but when a move in the backs broke down, Park hacked the ball
upfield for their wing to touch down under the posts.
The conversion was duly slotted, and Park were in front with their
first real incursion into Lions’ territory.
Good hands by the Lions’
backs gave Stuart Potter a half chance, but he was halted by a crunching
tackle from the Park full back. Tim
Collier was on hand to continue the move, but lost the ball in the tackle
to allow Park to clear. Tim
was again in the thick of things when he earned a rebuke from the referee
for a blatant late tackle, and was duly sin binned.
With a man advantage Park now
enjoyed a period of pressure, but a series of scrums close to the Lions’
line were held, and eventually disrupted for Lions’ to get the put in
and clear the danger. Lions
were soon back in opposition territory, and a well struck 40 metres
penalty by Richard Davies hit a post to allow Park to scramble clear.
Lions were not having things
all their own way, with Park’s big centres prominent in both attack and
defence. However, Lions finished the half with another penalty, and
this time Richard Davies made no mistake to give Lions a slender lead.
|
Half time
|
 |
| Sedgley Park
|
7 |
| Lions |
8 |
Lions made wholesale changes at
half time, and before the team could settle, Park applied some sustained
pressure. Lions were
penalised on the intervention of the Touch, but the Park fly half pulled
the chance wide. From the
ensuing drop out, the referee singled out the Lions’ flanker (who shall
remain nameless ‘cos I haven’t a clue who he is) and dispatched him to
the sin bin for an equally unknown offence.
Again the Park fly half pulled his penalty attempt wide.
Richard Davies was now putting
in some astute kicks to the corners to keep Park pegged back, and when Ian
Hyde took a superb catch from a high Park clearance under pressure, the
Park backs were given offside. However,
Richard Davies managed to pull the relatively simple kick wide of the
posts.
Good hands by the Park backs
saw their winger in space, but he had the dubious honour of being the
first player this season to be officially “Tovo’d” as Sam hammered
him into touch. Fa'atoto Moananu was next to show his paces for Lions with
a good run and chip, but Park covered well.
Rob Field took a clean catch at the line, but the Lions backs,
looking slow and predictable, made little impression on a solid Park
defence.
During another spell of
Lions’ pressure, Ian Hyde was penalised for holding on in the tackle, an
offence that the referee deemed to merit yet another yellow card.
The penalty took Park downfield, but Lions were able gain some
respite when Park were penalised for……..holding on in the
tackle……….wot, no yellow card??
Back came Park, and when Lions
were penalised for offside, their fly half converted the easy kick to put
his side back in the lead. To
make matters worse, steady rain was now falling, and with the impressive
new stand not yet complete, shelter was at a premium.
Unfortunately, most of it was taken up by the excellent burger bar,
so you will have to excuse the rest of this report as my notes became
fewer and more rain soaked.
| The derisive scare came when a
pear thrown at a lion park allowed Paul Thompson to squeeze his
balls……I’m sorry I’ll read my soggy notes again ……..when a
poor throw at a line by Park allowed Paul Thompson to steal the ball.
Bennett Smith drove on well, and Marek Kwisiuk was on hand to
burrow over. Michael Dods
opened his account for Lions with a well struck conversion. |
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The final minutes were all Park
pressure as they opted to scrummage a series of penalties, but Lions held
firm as the referee brought the game to a soggy end.
Final result:
Sedgley Park
10
Lions
15
Not exactly a convincing
performance by Lions, but take nothing away from Park.
They have a strong pack and some hard running backs and they will
surely more than hold their own in Division 2.
We wish them well.
As for Lions, numerous player
switches throughout the game obviously did not allow any sort of
continuity. It must also be remembered that they played for thirty
minutes with only 14 men due to 3 yellow cards.
Such self inflicted handicaps will not aid the cause in a difficult
league campaign, and the team must work on reducing the penalty count.
There will undoubtedly be some
hard work in training this week, and let’s hope that they find the spark
that is needed to fire the team for the last warm up game against
Newbridge. |
