They say that it’s lucky when a bird drops something on you from a great height…….well Dave Rushall, Webby’s intrepid cameraman, returned this morning from 2 weeks cruising the Caribbean, and had to go all the way to Esher for a parakeet to crap on him!!  It certainly proved lucky for Lions as they just managed to keep their noses in front to record another very welcome victory. 

Lions had Tim “Stomper” Stannard making a welcome return, on loan from Coventry.  He replaced the injured Ben Smith at lock.  Sam Stoop continued at fly half, with skipper Jon Boden in the centre.   

Lions conceded a penalty straight from the off, but Kevin Fisher’s 40 metres kick fell short. 

Tim Stannard was soon in the thick of things, and when Esher were penalised in stopping him, it was Jon Boden’s turn to put a 40 metres kick just wide of the uprights. 

Esher were enjoying possession in the early stages, but Lions’ tackling held firm.  When Lions did get possession, the backs looked dangerous as they moved the ball wide.  They should have scored when good hands gave Sam Stoop room down the left.  He made good ground before passing inside to the supporting Alex Nash, but the young flanker knocked on with the line at his mercy.  It was the only thing that he was to do wrong all afternoon. 

Not only were the backs looking dangerous, but the forwards were also looking dominant.  Esher scrums were going backwards, Lions were winning lineouts, and were even driving Esher back with some good mauling!!  It was from a take and drive that Esher were penalised for taking the maul down, and referee Richard Parker-Sedgemore had no hesitation in showing a yellow card to one of the Esher forwards. 

Jon Boden used the penalty to good effect, planting the ball firmly between the posts to give Lions the lead after 22 minutes.  ( 0 – 3 ) 

Back came Esher, and when they were awarded a free kick at a scrum, the ball was quickly moved wide for full back John Elford to storm through a huge gap to touch down.  Kevin Fisher’s conversion was wide.  ( 5 – 3 ) 

John Boden kept Esher on the back foot with some lovely tactical kicking.  Lions utilised the position to full effect with the forwards driving to the line.  With the referee signalling a penalty to Lions, the ball squirmed out of the maul, and Pete Roberts was on hand to pick up and race over.  Jon Boden’s conversion from wide out was well off target.  ( 5 – 8 )  Esher stormed back, but a timely interception by Tim Stannard gave Lions breathing space as half time approached.

Pete Roberts

Half time 

Esher    5          Lions    8 

It was third time lucky for Esher as they used the short side to good effect to squeeze over in the corner.  The touchline conversion was well short, but Esher were again back in touching distance.  ( 10 – 13 )   

It was all Esher pressure now, and desperate Lions’ defence just forced an attack into touch by the corner flag.  A good take by Eddie Simkiss at the lineout allowed Lions to clear, and better was to come.  As Esher attacked, crunching Lions’ tackling in midfield saw the ball lost, and who was on hand to pick it up…….none other than Spencer Brown.  In a repeat of last week’s effort, the flying wing raced 80 metres to dot down under the posts.  This time Jon Boden made no mistake with the simple conversion.  ( 10 – 20 )
Spencer on his own 22	...and scores under the posts

A typical lightening break by Dan South almost had Lions in, but they were penalised for handling in the ruck and Esher were able to clear.  It was at this point where Dave “the lense” Rushall suffered his unfortunate accident, much to the amusement of the Lions contingent.  One of them gave Dave a piece of toilet paper, but he told them in no uncertain terms that it was no use as the damn bird was miles away by then. 

Another penalty against Lions, this time for handling in the ruck, gave Esher an attacking lineout, which they used to good effect with an excellent take, and drive that Lions could not hold.  Again the conversion was pushed wide.  (15 – 20 ) 

Lions came bouncing back with a darting run by Dan South.  Good driving play by the forwards set up the position for Jon Boden to spot the gap behind the Esher defence and kick to the corner from half way.  Young Gareth Collins was after the ball in a flash, racing past his opposite number to outpace everyone to dive on the ball for a superb try.  Unfortunately Jon Boden could not add the finishing touch with the conversion.  ( 15 – 25 )  A series of penalties to Esher saw them laying siege to Lions’ line, but solid defence and a turnover allowed Sam Stoop to clear with a lovely 50 metres kick.  Another midfield turnover by Lions, and this time a high Sam Stoop kick to the corner was superbly taken by Spencer Brown.  The wing was held inches short, but the ball was moved back infield for Tim Stannard to crash his way over.  Jon Boden capped a miserable afternoon with the boot by scuffing the very kickable conversion.  ( 15 – 30 )  In injury time, a flowing move from the Esher backs brought a try under the posts, with the simple conversion signalling full time.
	Gareth Collins - Try
	Tim Stannard - Try

Final result: 

Esher    22         Lions    30

Don's musings 

Not a compelling performance by Lions, but like England they just did enough to win.  At least Lions again demonstrated their capacity to score tries from anywhere on the Park. For once the forwards were dominant with some solid scrummaging, good lineout work, and driving play in the loose.   As the confidence in the side starts to build, there is no doubt that the team is capable of improving week on week.  Let’s hope that the off-field antics are soon resolved, and we can all concentrate on turning the club around. 

Next week sees the visit of Nottingham to Webb Ellis Road, complete with old Lions’ favourite Paul Thompson.  Wouldn’t it also be nice to see the smiling face of Tom Woolrich at the game.  Let’s hope both sets of supporters are heralding an England victory in the morning, but that it will be the Lions’ supporters who will be celebrating the double in the afternoon.

Alex Nash

Esher, famous for its wild Parakeets, was making do with a large marquee as its clubhouse when Rugby Lions made their last visit to Hersham. Word has it that the now completed permanent structure was worth the temporary privations of the Bedouin phase of development.

At the time of that last visit, on the last day of March 2001, the Lions were facing yet another “must win” game, however, unlike more recent times it was promotion that was at stake as Rosslyn Park were snapping at the Lion’ heels and Bracknell seemed unassailable. Rugby’s fortunes have, as ever, since flowed and ebbed, but once again “must win” has to be attached to this fixture if the rest of the season is to be more comfortable for players, coaches and supporters alike. 

Rugby and Esher have only played each other twice in league competition (2000/01) and the Lions won both games, on each occasion overcoming plenty of stiff resistance before latterly piling up largish points totals. Prior to leagues the clubs had played 13 games between 1954 and 1986. Of these Rugby won 10 and lost 3. 

Esher finished last season in third place behind promoted Penzance/Newlyn and Henley, three wins adrift. That was their best ever season since leagues began in 1987 and the club must be disappointed not to have continued last season’s form into this one. So far they have won only one game out of the seven played, with one drawn. Their sole win was at home to Moseley and the drawn game was away against Nottingham. Home games were lost to Bracknell, Newbury and Sedgley Park and games were lost at Stourbridge and Wharfedale. 

Esher must be desperate to get their season back on the rails so the Lions will face a determined opposition on Saturday; let us hope that last week’s win against Newbury, shaky though it became toward the end, can be built on.

Directions

Leave M25 at Wisley Interchange (Junction 10) onto A3 towards London. After 1 mile      turn left to Walton-on-Thames (A245). After 1/4 mile turn right at traffic lights into Seven Hills Road (B365). Turn right at small roundabout into Burwood Road and follow this into Hersham Village, bearing right into Molesey Road.

Keep straight on at large roundabout, under railway bridge at Hersham Station and the ground is 300 yards on the left. (Approximate time from M25 - 15 minutes).