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Doncaster gained ample revenge for their defeat in the reverse fixture at
the start of the season as Lions failed to find their attacking edge in a
game that they desperately needed to win. Again there was enthusiasm in
abundance, but Lions could not turn possession into points against a
resolute Doncaster defence.
Lions kept faith with the same 15 that started the game at Harrogate, but
positional changes saw Tim Stannard move to number 8 and Lee Crofts take
his place at lock.
Enjoying the benefit of a gale force wind that was blowing diagonally
across the pitch, Doncaster soon had Lions under pressure. When Eddie
Simkiss handled in a ruck close to the Lions’ line, the referee deemed it
to be a serious enough offence to warrant a yellow card. Lions were down
to 14 men with only 2 minutes on the clock. Doncaster obviously fancied
their chances as they opted for a close in scrum. Lions did well to hold
the push, and the immediate danger looked to have passed as number 8 Mike
Brooks knocked on as he picked up and drove for the corner.
However, Lions could not clear their lines, and were next under pressure
from an attacking lineout. Again the Lions’ defence held firm as the
catch was taken and the drive came on. The pressure eventually paid off
when Doncaster moved the ball wide. The ball was dropped in the centre,
but Chris Yates was on hand to scoop up the loose ball and stroll through
a disrupted Lions’ defence for an easy try. Even the Doncaster supporters
thought that Rob Liley’s conversion had gone outside the post, but the
touch judge thought otherwise and the kick was awarded. ( 0 – 7 )
Lions soon bounced back, and a penalty at a midfield scrum was tapped and
the ball driven to within the shadow of the posts. When Doncaster were
penalised for handling in the ruck (wot……. no yellow card??), Terry Rahui
planted the ball firmly between the posts. ( 3 – 7 )
Lions were now back to full strength, but Doncaster were looking the
sharper unit with ball in hand. They were soon hammering at the Lions
line again, and despite some solid defending, a penalty for offside was
struck confidently by Rob Liley. ( 3 – 10 )
Doncaster soon extended their lead when good handling created room for
Richard Briggs to race over in the corner. Rob Liley judged his touchline
conversion to perfection in the appalling conditions. ( 3 – 17 )
Lions at last put a lovely attacking move together as good support play
took them deep into Doncaster territory, but the final pass did not go to
hand. Lions maintained the pressure, but could not convert an attacking
scrum and a lineout into points.
Half time
Lions 3 Doncaster 17
Lions changed both props at half time, with Glen Carson and Matt Davies
coming on for Phil Greenbury and Simon Black.
Lions should have taken heart from their pressure at the end of the first
half, and an early score with the wind at their backs would have made the
game very interesting. Unfortunately, Lions failed to clear their lines
from the kick off as a comedy of errors ended in a penalty to Doncaster
that was despatched to the corner. Lions could not hold the take and
drive as Simon Greenslade claimed the touchdown. Rob Liley’s touchline
conversion attempt into the teeth of the howling gale struck the post and
came back. ( 3 – 22 )
Lions were enjoying good spells of possession, but were finding it
difficult to string together any cohesive attacks in the dreadful
conditions. Pete Roberts opened the defence with a surging midfield run,
but again the Doncaster defence held firm.
Matthew Richards replaced the ineffective Brendan McIlraith, with Pete
Roberts moving to centre to accommodate him on the wing.
Both sides were finding it increasingly difficult to maintain any sort of
cohesion in the strong wind, as Lions rung the changes with Danny Facer
taking over from Eddie Simkiss, who put everything into the game as
usual.
Lions were now starting to exert more pressure, and when a penalty was
despatched to the Doncaster 22, the line was taken cleanly. A well
organised maul saw Lions work their way to the line where Pig Brittin
claimed the try. Terry Rahui’s conversion was well wide. ( 8 – 22 )
A
Terry Rahui chip almost had Phil Reed in, but the bounce just evaded him
and Doncaster were able to scramble the ball dead. From the ensuing
scrum, Allan Mitchell was hauled down inches short as he took a short pass
at pace. Then a mis-move in the centre had Phil Reed racing through, but
he too was hauled down inches short.
Lions at last got their just rewards as the speedy Matthew Richards set up
the position for the tireless Allan Mitchell to cross in the corner.
Terry Rahui’s conversion was again well off target in the gale. ( 13 -22
)
Lions were now trying everything and anything from anywhere on the field.
More enterprising play took them from their own line to the Doncaster 22,
but time was against them as the referee signalled a disappointing end to
the game.
Final result:
Lions 13 Doncaster 22
Don's musings
This was a game that Lions really had to win to keep the pressure on the
other clubs in the relegation zone. Sadly it wasn’t to be. Lions now
really have to make it count against Bracknell and Stourbridge, and hope
that Sedgeley Park have already won the league by the time we get to the
last game of the season at the end of April. Unfortunately, Lions are
reliant on other results going their way, but the teams around us are
picking up useful wins. They say that it’s not over until the fat lady
sings………well she’s certainly well into her warm up routine.
Whatever happens, we always have next season to look forward to!! Let’s
hope that plans are being put in place NOW,
both on the playing and the coaching front, regardless of whether we stay
up or go down. Somehow I get the feeling that this will not be the
case!! Wouldn’t it be refreshing to be proven wrong.
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