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Lions’ dwindling band of faithful supporters travelled to London hoping
that their side could build on last week’s victory against Lydney. My
daughter even made the trip from her home in Battersea to swell the
numbers, but she was treated to a dreadful first half performance that saw
Lions trailing by 19 – 0. Despite a good spell in the second half, Lions
finished a good second against a Rosslyn Park side that they should really
have beaten……and beaten well.
There was bad news and there was bad news on the injury front for Lions.
Not only was Steve Stewart missing with a recurrence of the shoulder
injury that has kept him out for several weeks, but the fractured wrist of
his fellow lock Chris Jones is not progressing as quickly as was hoped,
and he too remains sidelined. So Ben Smith returned to partner Steve
Smith in the second row. Phil Skillen’s ankle has not recovered from last
week, so John Paul Filler started at flanker. To cap it all, speedy young
wing Gareth Collins has picked up an injury, so Sam Stoop returned to the
starting line up. Pig Britten started in place of the unavailable Matt
Davies, and Dan South was preferred at scrum half.
Park had an early chance to put points on the board, but fly half Sam
Howard pulled his kick wide. Playing with a stiff breeze at their backs,
Park were enjoying most of the territorial advantage, but without really
troubling a strong Lions’ defence. Indeed, it was Lions that came closest
to scoring as a good break from Dan South set up the position for the
backs to put Lloyd Warner through. Unfortunately his chip over the last
line of defence was well covered and Park were able to clear the danger.
Lions were again close when a Jon Boden penalty from 40 metres fell just
short. Park used the wind to good advantage to take play deep into Lions
territory, and with Alex Taylor down injured, good hands made space for
Sam Howard to squeeze over in the corner after 25 minutes. His conversion
attempt was wide. ( 5 – 0 )
All
of Lions’ previous good defensive work was undone 5 minutes later when a
pick up from the base of a scrum saw scrum half Mike Friday race through a
non-existent defence to put the supporting Richard Jackson under the
posts. Sam Howard added the simple conversion. ( 12 – 0 )
Lions’ scrum again looked distinctly uncomfortable, but the lineout was
working well, despite the lack of any recognised jumpers. Lions enjoyed a
good spell as half time approached with a series of penalties taking them
up field. 2 very kickable penalties were then spurned as quick taps were
taken, but both floundered on the rock-like Park defence. A poor pass
from Jon Boden was then intercepted and Park gratefully took play back
into the Lions’ half. A penalty then compounded the error, and from the
resultant lineout, Park drove Sam Howard over for a simple score. The fly
half also added the conversion as the whistle signalled half time.
Half time
Rosslyn Park 19 Lions 0
Lions soon had points on the board at the start of the second half with a
well-struck penalty from 45 metres by Jon Boden. (19 – 3 )
Another interception from a poor Jon Boden pass saw Park break away, but
Dan South showed a rare turn of speed to haul his man down in the Lions’
22. Lions were relieved to clear to half way with a penalty, but their
relief was short lived as Park stole the line and moved the ball wide.
The wing made good ground before finding Richard Jackson in support, and
the inside pass put the full back in for his second try. Sam Howard added
an excellent conversion into the tricky breeze. ( 26 – 3 )
Lions now rang the changes, with John Paul Filler and Alex Taylor making
way for Danny Facer and Wimpie Jonker, with Dan South moving into the
centre.
A
bout of handbags at 10 paces saw Rhidian Booth and James Hayes yellow
carded, with Lions being awarded the penalty. Lions finally managed to
put points on the board as Glen Carson was driven over from the resultant
lineout. Jon Boden tagged on a good conversion. ( 26 – 10 )
At
last Lions showed what they are capable of with a superb length of the
field try. Running from their own 22, space was created on the left for
Spencer Brown. The wing made 50 metres before floating a lovely inside
pass to the supporting Jon Boden for the fly half to stroll under the
posts, and then add the conversion. ( 26 – 17 )
Shades of Doncaster!! Could Lions pull off another dramatic victory. A
Boden penalty from 40 metres was just wide. Then another penalty saw the
ball planted in the corner, but the lineout was lost. Another Jon Boden
penalty, this time from 30 metres, but this time the kick hit the upright
and Park cleared. More penalties, and again the ball is planted in the
corner. This time a long throw misses everyone, and again Park clear.
With just minutes to go, Jon Boden tried a chip from defence, but his kick
was charged down and centre Matt Pitt was on hand to pick up and force his
way over. The conversion was missed, but more importantly, Lions last
chance of victory was gone.
Final result:
Rosslyn Park 31 Lions 17
Don's musings
So
we had yet another false dawn against Lydney. Lions were back to their
bad old ways today, and with Jon Boden having a very bad day at the
office, the whole team looked totally disorganised and ineffectual. If
Lions cannot beat teams like Rosslyn Park, then we are in serious
trouble.
Yeah, yeah, we all know that we have financial constraints.
Yeah, yeah, we all know that we have a bad spate of injuries.
But
today was shambolic with no shape or organisation. Surely we are capable
of better than this performance. We keep seeing flashes of what the team
can do, but they seem incapable of doing it over a sustained period. The
dwindling band of Lions’ supporters is getting ever smaller. It is
certainly not worth paying £10 coach fare and £8 admission to see a
performance like that. The supporters deserve better.
I
don’t like to put pressure on the team……..and heaven knows that we, the
supporters, were patient last year ……..but unless we start to see some
pride, passion, and organisation…..and soon…..we will remain rooted very
firmly to the foot of this division, looking over the precipice into the
abyss of relegation.
So
please……..somebody do something…….and quick!! All these rumours about
what might or might not be happening off the pitch cannot be helping
matters on the pitch. The sooner things are sorted out one way or the
other, the better.
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