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Lions
came agonisingly close to securing their first win of the season against
lowly Moseley, but once again last minute team withdrawals saw another
makeshift pack finally succumb to a more powerful Moseley 8. The fat lady
has been warming up for some time, but she is now well and truly in full
voice, and Lions are in grave danger of going a whole season without a win.
Late
withdrawals by Jon Hylton and Rob Hurrell (WHY????) again forced Lions into
last minute team changes. Phil Reed moved to full back with Andy Macadam
coming in on the wing. In the forwards, Steve Smith moved to lock to
partner poor old Ben Smith who was asked to play out of position yet again.
With Ben Wheeler also sidelined through injury, Ryan Banks and Jimmy Fornoni
came into the back row.
Once
again Lions could not muster a full set of replacements…….pathetic or wot??
There were the obligatory 3 front row forwards, one back row forward, and
not a single back!!
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Lions got off to a superb start as Jon Boden caught the kick off and
cleared to touch. Lions stole the line and Boden skipped through a
static Moseley defence to throw out a long pass to Phil Reed steaming up
from full back who raced over from 40 metres. Jon Boden duly added
the conversion amidst cries from the Shed for the referee to blow for
full time!! ( 7 – 0 )
Moseley soon had a chance to post their own points on the board when
Lions were penalised for not rolling away from the tackle, but Stephen
Nutt’s relatively simple kick rebounded from a post and Lions cleared.
Ferocious Lions’ tackling forced Moseley to lose possession in midfield
to set up another Lions’ attack. However, not for the last time
the touch judge earned the wrath of the Shed by spotting a knock on for
a Moseley scrum. The touch had tape on his ear, and I hope it gets
better soon, but perhaps it is his eyes that need attention!!
Lions survived a
scare when Carl Colvin evaded several tackles on a touchline run, but he
put a foot in touch and was recalled as he crossed the line.
However, Lions tapped down from the resultant line out, and Moseley were
through quickly to secure possession to set up the platform for their
forwards to drive over. Stephen Nutt pulled his conversion wide.
( 7 – 5 )
Lions
were soon on the attack from the restart, and a charged down clearance kick
in the Moseley 22 caused chaos before Lions were awarded a penalty in front
of the posts as Moseley strayed offside in trying to stem the onslaught.
John Boden made no mistake with his kick, despite it being charged by one of
Moseley’s forwards!! Dooooohhhhh!! ( 10 – 5 )
Moseley’s forwards were now stepping up a gear as they rolled Lions back 20
metres, but they were penalised for their efforts and Jon Boden was able to
clear. Steve and Ben Smith were working wonders in the lines to secure
possession against the big Moseley jumpers, and Jon Boden almost put the
flying James Baker in at the clubhouse corner with a lovely crossfield
kick.
Lions
drove back in from the 22 drop out, but a fracas ensued and Lions’ Phil
Greenbury and Moseley’s Richard Protherough were duly dispatched to the sin
bin. Lions were soon penalised for handling in a ruck, and this time
Stephen Nutt made no mistake with the kick.
( 10
– 8 )
Lions' injury woes continued as Ben Smith was helped off, obviously in some
discomfort, to be replaced by Ben Harvey, on loan from Wasps. Now Lions
really were in the mire, with only one makeshift second row……although Steve
Smith was having a stormer.
Moseley scrum half Gareth Taylor worked the short side beautifully to put
flanker Jason Mellors clear, but the Lions’ cover was up to the task. Lions
had possession, but were camped on their own 22. Rather than hoof the ball
clear, Lions set up a series of sniping runs, and Alex Taylor found the gap
to send Tristan Prosser-Shaw storming upfield. Once again it was Phil Reed
who was on hand to take the scoring pass and scamper the last 30 metres for
another excellent try. Jon Boden’s conversion drifted just wide. (15 – 8
).
Moseley continued to gain good line out possession, although several throws
looked decidedly crooked. A kick through by Moseley looked dangerous, but
Lions scrambled the ball clear. However, Moseley secured the line again,
and set up an unstoppable drive for Alex Clarke to claim the touch down.
Stephen Nutt’s conversion brought the scores level as half time approached.
However, there was still time for Moseley to get their noses in front as
Lions were penalised for offside in the shadow of their own posts as they
repelled yet another massive Moseley forward drive. Stephen Nutt converted
the easy kick as the referee blew for half time.
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Boden ghosts through the
gap |
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great ball out to Reed |
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pace will tell - Reed
scores |
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TPS the 110% man breaks
out |
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to Phil Reed |
That man Reed again |
Half time
Lions 15 Moseley 18
It
was all to play for, but the signs were ominous for Lions as Moseley
realised that their pack were starting to dominate the hardworking Lions’ 8.
On the other hand, Lions certainly had the measure of the Moseley backs, but
could they secure enough quality possession to make their superiority
count??
Moseley quickly showed their intent with 2 powerful 20 metres forward
drives, but Lions’ defence held firm. When Moseley varied their tactics
with a high kick, James Baker took a lovely running catch before executing a
perfect dummy scissors with Phil Reed to make space down the left. However,
poor hands as the ball was worked back inside saw Moseley gain possession
and launch a counter down the left. It was that man Steve Smith who came
hurtling across to hammer the winger into touch and relieve the danger.
The
referee was earning the displeasure of both sets of supporters with some
strange decisions, none of which were clearly signalled as to their cause.
Jon
Boden tried a cheeky chip from defence and was unlucky not to re-secure
possession, but Moseley knocked on in trying to tidy up. Unfortunately,
Moseley took the scrum against the head and Lions were back under pressure.
Moseley’s Geoff Gregory limped off to be replaced by James Aston.
Phil
Reed almost got his hat trick with a brilliant mazie maisey
weaving run that took him past several would be tacklers, and it was only a
desperate clutch at his shirt that stopped a memorable score. However,
Moseley were penalised and Jon Boden brought the scores level. (18 – 18 )
Moseley brought on several pairs of fresh legs to regalvanise their efforts,
but all that Lions could do was to bring on Richard Tarrant for Glen
Carson. It was all Moseley now as Lions started to tire, and another heel
against the head set up another attacking position for Moseley. |
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Nearly the hat trick |
Lions
were unlucky (how many times have I said that this season!?!?!?!) when an
attempted drop goal by Moseley was charged down, only for the ball to fall
to Stephen Nutt who gratefully accepted the opportunity to strike a sweet
drop goal to put Moseley back in front. ( 18 – 21 ).
Lions
at last secured a line out win, and Phil Reed and James Baker almost
manufactured space on the right, but the Moseley cover snuffed out the
opportunity. Lions were awarded the scrum put in, and more pressure forced
Moseley to kill the ball, and they were lucky not to have a player binned
for the offence. They were even luckier when Jon Boden completely scuffed
the relatively easy penalty well wide.
Lions
were now starting to up the ante, and a planned move in midfield almost
created the gap, but the pass was just behind the player and Moseley raced
away upfield. James Baker recovered well to catch centre Paul Cox, but
another chance had gone begging.
The
game was still there to be won, and more heroics from the pack forced a
string of penalties against Moseley, and Lions were within striking
distance. Could they win the line? Steve Smith rose majestically to take
the throw and the drive was on. However, Moseley immediately sat the maul
down and were given a good shoeing for their troubles. Unfortunately, the
referee adjudged that Richard Tarrant had been too vigorous in his actions,
and he was duly dispatched to the bin, and Moseley cleared from the
penalty.
Again
Lions came back, and again Moseley were penalised. With time running out it
was decision time. Should Lions go for the draw? Sod that for a game of
soldiers!! It was death or glory time. S**t or bust!!
Jon
Boden tapped to the corner, and again Lions’ makeshift jumpers managed to
secure possession. Again Lions drove in, and again Moseley were penalised.
Time for one last throw of the die. Having spurned the draw earlier, surely
Lions would tap it and unwrap it and bask in glory or at least go down
fighting. To everyone’s amazement Steve Smith opted for goal. Sadly Jon
Boden again scuffed his kick as the referee blew for full time and Moseley
breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Final result:
Lions 18 Moseley 21
Don Musings
No-one could fault the efforts of the men who pulled on the Lions’ jersey
today, but questions have to be asked about why we were again disrupted by
late withdrawals in key positions. We do not know the facts……as usual we
are kept in the dark……but if players are not fully committed to Lions, then
get rid of them. I would rather play some of the colts who I know would
give 110% for the cause.
As
for not being able to field a single backs replacement……what a disgrace. I
know we have been racked by injuries, but surely we could have registered
some colts before now. Today’s game would have been a good initiation for
them.
We
were told several weeks ago by the then Chief Executive, who seems to be
doing the same job but under a different name, that now was the time to
start rebuilding for next season. We don’t seem to be seeing much evidence
of this. Players should be approached NOW with a view to signing up for
next season so that we can mount a campaign for an immediate return to this
Division. However, I fear that we will see the usual dallying and players
will simply walk away, as many did at the beginning of this season, or they
will be snapped up by other clubs…..I’m sure that Coventry will already be
sniffing around several players!!
Maybe
things are going on behind the scenes, so why not tell us about them? The
long suffering supporters have endured an awful lot this season, but we are
still 100% committed to the club…….but it’s getting bloody hard when we are
treated like mushrooms and not even fed s**t!! The silence from the club is
deafening…..as it has been all season.
Come
on Mr Owen, we know we owe you a huge debt of gratitude for keeping the club
afloat, and we hope that the relationship will continue. But at the moment
more and more people are feeling alienated by an apparent lack of action by
the management of the Club. Please, please can you give us a clue what is
going on?? Heaven forbid that we start next season with the same shambles
that we saw at the start of this season. If we do, then I fear that we are
on the slippery slope to oblivion.
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