Under
the watchful gaze of Lions new Director of Rugby, Paul Rendall, the Lions
turned in the most inept 40 minutes to go into the break 3 – 29 down.
The first
half had been totally dominated by Plymouth’s big pack while the Lions
old failings of poor lineouts and failure of the front five to get to the
breakdown all contributed to what was a dire first-half.
From a Plymouth point of view, the excellent Daniel Ward-Smith,
playing at No8, ran the show and by God, can’t he run!
Lion’s only points in the first-half came from the boot of Jon
Boden. The Lions were not even a close second!!
Whatever
‘Judge’ Paul Rendall said at half time we can only wonder, but it
certainly fired the Lions up! They
came out looking as if they actually could and would play.
2mins. into
the half Jon Boden kicked a penalty to make it
6-29.
Plymouth
hit back with another try, 6 - 34. Game over? Oh no it wasn't
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Then came the decisive
moment as the Lions made 4 changes.
This seemed to give the Lions fresh impetuous.
From a great up and under Plymouth failed to clear from under
their own posts – scrum 5 to the Lions.
After a pick up by ‘Stomper’, Phil Reed, now playing at his
favoured scrum half position, cleverly switched play to the blind-side
giving room for Alex Taylor to put Chris Frara in at the corner.
Now 11
– 34. |
Next came another
Boden penalty as a direct result of more Lions impetus and pressure 14
– 34.
There was now a
growing sense that the Lions could and would make a game of it.
The forwards were now picking and driving to great effect.
Resulting quick ball (is this a first for the season?) allowed Taylor to
show his eye for a gap and to make a break.
Plymouth killed the ball under their posts and their man was duly
dispatched to the sin bin. Quick
thinking by Ben Wheeler saw him dive over for a try converted by Boden
21 – 34.
| 4
mins later a Matt Vines break led to a try by Manson-Bishop, the
conversion hit the post!
26 – 34.
The
Lions were now rampant. The
tide had turned. The shed
awash with passion (so was I, so sorry
can't read my notes bring back Don!!)
but anyway Frara went in for his 2nd try
33 – 34. The
Plymouth drums had now stopped.....if only they could have been silenced
in the first half!! |
 |
| Good on yer Guy |
With 2mins
left on the clock Jon Boden kicked a penalty to put the Lions
into a wholly improbable lead
36 – 34.
BUT,
from nowhere, whistle happy Geraint Ashton-Jones found an ‘unbelievable’
5mins of injury time
allowing Plymouth just enough time to pull a win out of the hat with a try from
THAT No 8 Ward-Simpson.
Full-time
36 – 39
Two
bonus points for Rugby.
Musings!
The first-half was
totally wretched.
The 2nd
half saw the Lions play with more passion,
pride and commitment than has been shown all season.
The front 5 were actually hitting rucks and mauls, thus Plymouth had to commit
men to the break down freeing space out wide.
The line-out was kept simple (hip hip hooray).
The backs and forwards alike were already moving forward as the ball came
to them. ………..which all goes to prove that the Lions can play
rugby.
Judge Rendall will
however, be under no illusion - there
is still a lot of hard work to be done. Starting next week the whole
Lions team MUST play from the first whistle for the entire 80 (90) minutes.
See you all at
Wakey next week, sorry but Don's missing again next week. Apologies in advance.
This game also highlighted
the pressing need for independent time keepers.
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| England's
finest... |
