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Lions will be kicking themselves tonight for losing to a very ordinary
Bracknell outfit that simply had too much fire-power up front. However,
Lions did show their potential, scoring three excellent tries, two coming
in the last quarter, but it was too little and too late.
Lions season began drastically when Sam Stoop fielded a wayward Bracknell
kick straight from the start, and fired out a long pass to the supporting
Steve Smith. The number 8 set off on a 30 metres gallop down the left
wing, but when he was eventually tackled into touch, he failed to get back
to his feet. After lengthy treatment he returned to the fray, but lasted
no more than a minute before he was substituted by young Damien Taylor.
Steve’s season had lasted no more than 2 minutes of actual playing time!!
Bracknell enjoyed much of the early possession, but it was Lions who
posted the first points as Jon Boden kicked a 22 metres penalty following
good work by Alex Taylor. ( 0 – 3 )
Bracknell should have been level almost immediately as Lions committed the
cardinal sin of letting the kick off to bounce, and gave away a penalty as
they tried to recover the situation. Luckily fly half Neal Hallett
pushed the simple kick wide.
More penalties against Lions saw Bracknell with a lineout 10 metres from
Lions’ line. Lions held the initial drive, but as the ball was moved
infield, Lions were penalised in front of the posts for swinging an arm in
the tackle. I’m not sure who swung it and whose arm they swung, but
referee Gareth Copsey was having none of it. This time Neal Mallett made
no mistake. ( 3 – 3 )
Another penalty against Lions for a scrum offence saw Bracknell with
another attacking lineout. This time Mr. Casey decided to ring the
changes and awarded Bracknell a free kick for closing the gap. Bracknell
moved the ball wide, then back inside, but Lions’ tackling held firm.
That is until Mr. Copsey spotted another “swinging arm”, and as well as
awarding the penalty against Lions, consigned flanker Eddie Simkiss to the
bin for 10 minutes (presumably to return the arm that he had been swinging
to its rightful owner).
Bracknell spurned the kickable penalty, and put the ball in the corner.
Good decision. A textbook take and drive, and Lions were unable to
prevent the score. Neal Pallett added the conversion. ( 10 – 3 )
At
last Lions managed to get some decent possession, but made little headway
against a resolute Bracknell defence. Eventually Lions were awarded a
scrum in the shadow of the Bracknell posts. Although Bracknell disrupted
Lions’ put in, the ball came back to Jon Boden who tried a chip and
chase. Mr. Casey was having none of his claims for obstruction, and
instead awarded Lions another scrum put in. Sadly it was the same old
story as Lions conceded a penalty as the scrum retreated, and Bracknell
cleared the pressure.
Bracknell worked their way downfield with some good interplay between
forwards and backs. As Lions defence wilted, the ball was moved wide and
a lovely pass in the tackle put the support over in the corner. Neal
Ballet added an excellent touchline conversion. ( 17 – 3 )
With 40 minutes up, Lions new that any possession they secured had to
count. Excellent driving and support took possession through several
phases of play to take Lions upto the Bracknell line. Just as it looked
as though they would never break through, the ball was moved wide right
where Jon Boden popped up on the wing and delivered a perfectly timed
inside pass to Eddie Simpkiss who crashed his way over. A well-deserved
team try for some outstanding play. Jon Boden added a lovely conversion
to raise the spirits of the few Lions’ faithful as Mr. Copsey blew for
half time.
Half time
Bracknell 17 Lions 10
Lions weathered an aggressive start by Bracknell, and from a defensive
scrum, a good pick up and feed by Eddie Simpkiss gave Spencer Brown a yard
of room. The wing squeezed past his man and charged downfield. He chose
to kick over the fullback, but the cover was there to snub out the
danger.
Again Lions were penalised, this time for taking a scrum down. As in the
first half, the penalty was to prove costly to Lions, as another perfectly
executed take and drive resulted in another score. This drive really
should have been stopped before it got any momentum, but too many people
seemed to be standing off the maul instead of getting stuck in. Neal
Wallet’s conversion flew wide. ( 22 – 10 )
Things were going from bad to worse for Lions, as even their normally
reliable lineout was failing as Bracknell secured vital possession with
Lions in good attacking positions. Sam Stoop did well to take a high
Bracknell kick, but also took an equally high Bracknell tackle. Tempers
flared, and following the intervention of the touch judge, Bracknell
flanker Jay King was despatched to the bin.
This was Lions chance to get themselves back into the game. A very slim
ex-Lion, James Ogilvie-Bull ,replaced another ex-Lion, Jason Critchley, as
Lions began to dominate at last. A beautifully judged 60 metres penalty
to the corner by Jon Boden gave Lions an attacking lineout. This time the
take by Chris Jones was good, and the drive was on. However, Bracknell
were penalised for taking the maul down. Lions opted for another tap to
the corner …..what was wrong with a scrum with the Bracknell pack a man
light???? This time the possession was scrappy and Bracknell gleefully
hacked clear.
Now
it was Bracknell’s turn to exert some pressure, and though still a man
down, managed to drive Lions back from a lineout. When the ball was
released, Bully took a short pass in the centre to power over by the
posts. Neal Mullett added the conversion.
Again Lions refused to buckle, and good driving play earned an attacking
scrum. A lovely weighted pass from Jon Boden saw Alex Taylor slice
through a static defence for a classic try under the posts. Jon Boden
tagged on the simple conversion. ( 22 – 17 )
Lions were now starting to raise their game, and a superb crossfield kick
by Jon Boden gained 60 metres. However, another penalty relieved the
pressure, and this time it was Bracknell’s turn to race upfield, but a
timely interception by Gareth Collins stifled the move. The pendulum had
really swung now as Lions benefited from a series of penalties to camp on
Bracknell’s line. A tap from a penalty saw the ball driven into the left
corner by the forwards, and when it was released, the ball flew through
several pairs of hands out to Gareth Collins on the right wing. Although
taking man and ball, he delivereda lovely flick pass to the looping Sam
Stoop who crash over in the corner. It was all too little too late as Jon
Boden’s conversion flew wide, and referee Gareth Casey signalled full time
for a relieved Bracknell.
Final result:
Bracknell 29 Lions 22
Don's Musings
A
frustrating afternoon for the Lions’ faithful, and I’m sure for Judgie and
the team Too many penalties and missed opportunities meant that Lions
suffered a narrow defeat, when they should really have been celebrating
their first league victory. Two of Bracknell’s tries came from forward
drives from lineouts as a result of penalties against Lions.
There were certainly flashes of what the team are capable of with the ball
in hand as the Lions’ backs scored three excellent tries. They will also
surely improve as they continue to play together…..something to look
forward to.
That is, of course, if the forwards can secure enough quality possession
to give the backs the opportunity. As had been expected, Lions
lightweight pack was put through the mill by the Bracknell 8. Losing
Steve Smith so early in the game was a massive blow, and his presence
could have turned the defeat into a victory. Let’s hope that the injury
is not too serious, but he certainly looked to be in a lot of trouble as
he hobbled off.
And
so to Doncaster next week. Probably the most difficult away trip of the
campaign. Doncaster will be smarting after their defeat by Stourbridge
today (if you can believe the teletext scores), and will be determined to
show their supporters what they are capable of. The Lions faithful will
be looking for a wholehearted performance from their own team…..that’s all
that we can ask. |
