Rugby Lions - The Rugby Football Club, from the Home of the Game

Match report by Don Townend

Lions suffered yet another defeat at the hands of high-flying Worcester to leave them with a perfect record of losing every single game through the season. Outgunned yet again up front, Lions were forced to defend for long periods, but still managed to score some cracking tries.

With Pete Jenkins returning at scrum half, Phil Reed reverted to fullback, and flying James Baker took up his position on the wing. Jason Critchley filled the other wing berth.

Lions got off to the perfect start when Wuss were caught offside and Jon Boden placed his 40 meters kick straight between the posts. ( 3 – 0 ).

With the Lions faithful in the Shed calling for referee David Sainsbury to blow for full time, Wuss’s unfortunate hooker Chris Hall was stretchered of with a leg injury. He was replaced by Stewart Pearl.

Better was to come for Lions as they soaked up pressure from Wuss then won a scrum in midfield. Pete Jenkins broke beautifully from the base, James Baker cut inside from his wing to carry on the move. Who else was on his shoulder but the tireless Tristan-Prosser Shaw who slipped the ball superbly from the tackle into the grateful arms of Phil Reed to speed under the posts. Jon Boden added the simple conversion. ( 10 – 0 ).

Wuss’s response was swift and true. Jon Boden tried a chip over the defence on his own 22, but Wuss secured possession and the ball ended up with the dangerous Duncan Roke. The fullback showed why he is one of the League’s top try scorers as he used pace and power to race through the fragmented Lions’ ranks to cross by the posts. James Brown converted. ( 10 – 7 ).

Lions scrum was looking more solid than of late, and good lineout ball was being won. Nevertheless, it was Wuss who were enjoying the bulk of the possession, but Lions tackling was hard and true.

Lions extended their lead as the dangerous James Baker used his pace to go outside his man on halfway, and Jon Boden was on hand to take the scoring inside pass, then add the conversion. ( 17 – 7 ).

Again, Wuss’s response was immediate as wing Chris Garrard found room down the left when Lions’ defence was sucked in to stem a powerful forward drive. A simple inside pass to David Officer saw the centre outpace the defence to score by the posts. James Brown again added the conversion. ( 17 – 14 ).

The Wuss pack was now starting to dominate, and only a tremendous cover tackle by Jon Boden prevented another score. However, it wasn’t long before the forward pressure again created space, and this time it was fly half James Brown who made the initial break. David Officer carried on the move, and there was the flying Duncan Roke on hand to score under the posts. James Brown added the conversion and Wuss were in front for the first time on 27 minutes. ( 17 – 21 ).

Again Lions had to soak up tremendous pressure from the big Wuss pack, as they drove fully 30 metres. However, the pressure had to tell. Strong Lions tackling had forced Duncan Roke into touch, but the defences were finally breached as James Brown found the initial gap, and wing Chris Garrard did the rest. James Brown added an excellent touchline conversion. ( 17 – 28 ).

Lions were struggling to gain any meaningful possession, and were not helped by a string of penalties against them. Ben Wheeler limped of at this point to be replaced by Jimmi Fornoni.

40 minutes was now up, but 10 minutes of extra time were added for the unfortunate injury to Chris Hall. This allowed Wuss to add 2 tries to their tally. First David Officer crossed despite the valiant efforts of James Baker. James Brown added the conversion. ( 17 – 35 ).

Then the final act of the half went to the ever-dangerous Duncan Roke as he again used his pace to weave through a tiring Lions defence. Again, James Brown added the conversion, and referee David Savoury signalled the end of an entertaining half that Lions had made a significant contribution to.

Half time

Lions 17 Worcester 42

Lions made several changes for the second half. Eddie Saunders came on for Stuart Potter. Jason Critchley moved into the centre to let Eddie take up his usual position on the wing. Glen Carson replaced Steve Smith, who had been struggling with what looked like a wrist or hand injury. Richard List moved to the back row to accommodate Glen at prop. The other change saw Phil Greenbury take over the other prop position from Simon Black.

Wuss started the second half where they left off in the first half as their powerful pack rolled Lions back 20 metres. However, solid Lions tackling forced the turnover, and a Jon Boden “boomer” took play well into the Wuss half.

As in the first half, we had the unfortunate sight of the stretcher being brought on, this time for the unfortunate Phil Reed who looked to have a serious knee injury. Andy Macadam came on to replace him, with James Baker reverting to fullback.

Wuss also made changes with Craig Quinnell and Craig Chalmers coming on for Danny Zaltzman and James Brown. Not a bad couple of replacements!! They both immediately made their presence felt as Quinnell scored from a lineout take and drive following a penalty to the corner by Craig Chalmers. Chalmers’ conversion hit the post and bounced out. ( 17 – 47 ).

More Wuss changes saw Hugo Southwell and Gareth Mason replace Chris Garrard and Tony Windo.

Wuss were now totally dominant and Lions were attempting to live off scraps of possession. The constant tackling took its toll as Lions’ overworked defence was sucked in to hold a strong forward drive. When the ball was moved wide, lovely hands from centre Gary Truman gave Tom Richardson an easy run in. Craig Chalmers’ conversion attempt was wide. ( 17 – 52 ).

More sustained Wuss pressure saw Craig Quinnell driven over, but Craig Chalmers’ conversion attempt was wide. ( 17 – 57 ).

A perfectly judged penalty to the corner gave Lions an attacking platform, but they couldn’t build on it as Wuss stole the lineout and cleared. Richard Tarrant replaced the limping Richard List. More good Lions’ tackling kept Wuss at bay, and Lions almost scored themselves, but Tristan Prosser-Shaw was recalled for a forward pass.

Back came Wuss again, and with Lions fully committed to holding a rolling maul, lock Craig Gillies found a gap down the blind side and ran 30 meters unopposed to the line. This time Craig Chalmers made no mistake with the conversion. ( 17 – 64 ).

It was all Wuss now, and a pushover try was thwarted illegally, and David Sainsbury awarded the penalty try, which Craig Chalmers converted. ( 17 – 71 ).

James Baker was now forced to leave the field, and was replaced by Ben Smith. The versatile Tristan Prosser-Shaw moved into the centre.

Another forward drive saw Stewart Pearl claim the touchdown. Craig Chalmers pulled the conversion wide. ( 17 – 76 )

		At last Lions enjoyed a period of possession, and ended the game with a glorious try. Alex Taylor made the initial break, the ball was moved through several pairs of hands, and there was Alex Taylor again to take the final pass and cross by the posts. Jon Boden added the conversion as referee David Sainsbury brought Lions’ dismal season to a close.
Click here for video of Alex Taylors try

Final result:

Lions 24 Worcester 76

Don's musings

So Lions managed to go all season without one single win for the faithful few to cheer.

Lions have proved that they can score excellent tries, even against top opposition. However, the forwards have continuously struggled and inevitably Lions have suffered as constant tackling took its toll.

So now we have to make do with cricket for a few months. Roll on September!! Whatever happens, Lions must start the campaign in Division 2 with a squad of players that have been training together for at least a month. Then we can look forward to a few wins as we consolidate our position in the league.

Match report..

	by Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf

The disgraceful British press have been peddling their usual lies, saying that Worcester beat Rugby Lions this afternoon. Just to show how low they can go, they even reported that Coventry had beaten Rotherham. More lies and fantasies. Let me tell you that it was the Lions that won a glorious victory this afternoon. The invading army from the decadent West of Worcester were given the biggest thrashing of their lives by the majestic forces of the imperial Lions. The invading hordes were spotted at the walls of Webb Ellis Road and were halted in their tracks by the special defensive tactics that had been deployed. The only way in was through the narrow gates that had been constructed, which meant that the infidels could only enter one at a time. This advance guard became easy prey as they were picked off with wave after wave of laser guided stale meat pies. The Gold and Blues were well and truly black and blue. On the field of battle, the Gold and Blue army were totally routed, with several of their ranks reverting to wearing civilian clothing and taking refuge in the Shed. There was no respite for them there as they were bombarded with barbed tongue-lashings from the elite Lions support squad. The invaders even recruited an inspector of illegal tactics of mass destruction. Tariq Tesco was conspicuous throughout the campaign in his yellow jersey, racing around the battlefield screaming at the protagonists, filling the air with shrill blasts from his UN whistle. But even his efforts could not prevent the mighty forces of the Lions registering a glorious victory as they repelled wave after wave of attacks, preventing even one score. The Lions’ countered with magnificent attacking formations that resulted in several direct hits being scored from which the decadent Gold and Blue army never recovered. Such was the superiority of the Lions’ forces that one of the elite attacking flying machines was brought down as he flew down the wing by one of the local farmers in the Shed with just a single well aimed shot from 12 bore shotgun. The invaders used despicable tactics in bringing their secret weapon into the fray late in the battle. The infamous Ali Ogilvie-Bully defected to the West at the start of the current campaign, but the knowledge gained during his training at Lions was of little benefit to him as he hammered away at Lions’ defensive formations, all to no avail. In view of this defeat, the disgraced leader of the invaders, Saddam Duckworth, has now taken refuge with Osama Bin Laden, Lord Lucan, Shergar and Evis Presley in a flat above a chip shop in Brownsover. As for the magnificent Lions……..they can look forward to next season in the Premiership when captain Johnnie Wilkinson will lead out the victorious team in their new 50,000 capacity stadium where all tickets for every home fixture are already sold. All hail the conquering Lions!!

Match Preview

Lions team

The Lions will win a famous victory.

There will be no Worcester players who dare to even turn up at Webb Ellis Rd.

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