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Lions looked to be suffering from M6 lag (the supporters certainly were!!)
as they conceded 17 unanswered points in the first 12 minutes. However,
they slowly fought their way back into the game, scoring 4 good tries in a
much improved second half performance.
Lions made just one change from the team that despatched Wharfedale last
week, with Tim Stannard returning at lock, and Glen Carson starting on the
bench.
Lions conceded a penalty straight from the kick off to allow Ryno
Ueckermann (that’s his real name, honest…..I haven’t done my usual
anagram!!) to give Park an early lead. ( 3 – 0 )
Within minutes, Lions were further behind as a Jon Boden clearance from
just outside his 22 flew straight into touch in the tricky wind. Park
took the line and drove in, but the Lions’ pack held the first drive, just
as the Lions’ backs held the next attack as the ball was swung right.
Unfortunately, when the ball was moved back left, forwards and backs were
in short supply as giant lock Paul Arnold strode through an equally huge
gap to touch down by the posts. Ryno Ueckermann added the simple
conversion. ( 10 – 0 )
When Dan South misjudged a clearance kick in the swirling wind, Park wing
John Lowden took advantage of a kindly rebound to race down the left. Sam
Stoop stopped him with an excellent tackle, but the respite was
short-lived. The big Park pack drove play to the Lions’ line, where a
lovely reverse pass from Dave McCormack had Paul Arnold crashing over by
the posts for his second try. Ryno Ueckermann again added the simple
conversion.( 17 – 0 )
Lions at last started to enjoy some possession, and Dan South showed his
speed with a sniping run down the right. Poor lineout work cost Lions a
good position and allowed Park to take play back into Lions’ territory
with some powerful running. Lions’ defence held firm until that man Paul
Arnold charged in again. This time the Lions’ defence managed to hold the
big lock, but he slipped a lovely pass to the supporting Jim Naylor for
the centre to extend Park’s lead. Ryno Ueckermann again had a simple
conversion. ( 24 – 0 )
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Lions were making little headway against a solid Park
defence, but when Alex Nash finally found a way through, the promising
move was stopped by a retiring Jim Naylor who can count himself lucky
not to have ended up in the bin. Jon Boden tapped to the corner, Alex
Nash rose to take the catch, and good work by the forwards drove Eddie
Simkiss over for Lions’ opening points. Jon Boden’s conversion from
10 metres in from touch was well wide. ( 24 – 5 ) |
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There was still time for Park to add to their account as first Mark Lloyd
and then Jim Naylor made huge dents in Lions’ defence. The drive was held
but Lions were penalised at the breakdown in the shadow of their posts,
and Ryno Ueckermann converted the simple kick.
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Half time
Sedgley Park 27 Lions 5
Lions started the
second half purposefully, and excellent ball retention took play to
the Park line where Rhidian Booth crashed over. Jon Boden again
pushed the conversion wide. ( 27 – 10 ) |
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Park were penalised as Lions drove in again, and Jon
Boden planted the ball in the corner. A good take by Tim Stannard saw
Lions driving in, but Park were again penalised for stopping the maul
illegally. Lions continued to hammer away, and when Park were
penalised yet again, the referee, as well as the Lions’ supporters,
had run out of patience, and John Lowdon was despatched to the bin.
Lions could not find a way through until, from a Lions’ scrum, Eddie
Simkiss picked up to put Lee Crofts away, and was then on hand to take
the return pass to cross by the posts. This time Jon Boden’s
conversion was good. ( 27 – 17 ) |
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Lions were now dominating play and were unlucky not to score again when
they were recalled for a forward pass following a good run by Dan South
and excellent support play by forwards and backs. Lions were looking for
another score to really open the game up, but it was Park who added to
their score as Richard Senior powered over in a move that had a hint of a
forward pass. Ryno Ueckermann’s first really difficult kick was well
wide. ( 32 – 17 )
| With
Steve Smith on for Eddie Simkiss, Lions again showed that they are
capable of scoring tries against the best. Sam Stoop made the initial
break, and Spencer Brown was on hand to continue the move. As so
often this season, it was Alex Nash who was there to take the final
scoring pass. Jon Boden’s conversion from a very kickable position
was wide. ( 32 – 22 ) |
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Glen Carson replaced Tim Stannard as Lions strove to narrow the gap, but
instead they gave away a soft try as scrum half Dave McCormack ran in an
interception from half way. Ryno Ueckermann added the conversion from
under the posts. ( 39 – 22 )
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Lions refused to give up, and a scything run by Spencer Brown put Sam
Stoop away for the full back to cross wide out. Jon Boden’s
conversion was again wide. ( 39 – 27 ) |
Park had the last word with another soft try as Lions tried to run from
their own line but only succeeded in presenting the ball to Ross Bullough
who gratefully accepted to dot down. Ryno Ueckermann added a lovely
conversion from wide out.
Final result:
Sedgley Park 46 Lions 27
Don's musings
Another good display from Lions despite the score line. Lions pushed
table-topping Park all the way, and but for a couple of soft tries at the
end, the score would have better reflected the pattern of play.
Lions now have an opportunity to continue their impressive form with a
home game against Stourbridge. Another win would leave Lions in a
comfortable league position over Christmas, so that we can all enjoy our
Turkey and look forward to the New Year with optimism.
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First the good news.
When Sedgley Park came to Webb Ellis Road for the second round Powergen
Cup tie in September, the Lions won 46-12. Now for the bad news. Park were
alleged to have sent their second team! Subsequent events bear this out
as the Manchester based club have so far lost only one league game out of
eleven, while Rugby’s record is six lost from the same total. However,
since the end of October, Nottingham apart, the Lions have shown a gradual
improvement culminating in last Saturdays decisive win against Wharfedale.
Rugby FC and Sedgley
Park RFC faced each other for the first time this season, excepting that
is, a trial game played two years earlier at Park Lane, in the run-up to
the 2001/02 season, Today’s match will be the first league encounter
between the two clubs.
So far this season
Sedgley Park have won ten league games. Harrogate, Lydney, Newbury,
Nottingham and Wharfedale were beaten at home. Esher, Moseley, Nuneaton,
Rosslyn Park and Stourbridge were beaten on their own grounds. Bracknell,
the only club to inflict a defeat on Sedgley Park in the league, did so at
Park Lane at the end of November.
As far as tough games
go, next Saturday’s could be the one for the Lions this season. Following
on from the home win against Wharfedale, another away win added to those
obtained at Doncaster and Esher would be very welcome. Sedgley Park
though, with Harrogate breathing down their necks, can ill afford another
slip-up at home with promotion already beckoning, so the Lions have a
great chance to spoil the party with less to lose than usual. |
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15 |
Sam Stoop |
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14 |
Dan South |
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13 |
Peter Roberts |
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12 |
Lloyd Warner |
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11 |
Spencer Brown |
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10 |
Jon Boden (c) |
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9 |
Sam Rees |
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8 |
Eddie Simkiss |
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7 |
Alex Nash |
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6 |
Lee Crofts |
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5 |
Tim Stannard |
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4 |
Dave Campton |
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3 |
Phil Greenbury |
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2 |
'Pig' |
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1 |
Rhidian Booth |
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Reps |
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Matt Davies |
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Glen Carson |
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Steve Smith |
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Scott Reid |
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