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Lions found it difficult to break down a stubborn Bedford
Athletic defence before 3 tries in the last 5 minutes put a flattering
gloss on the scoreline. However, you can’t argue with a win and a bonus
point for scoring 4 tries!!
Lions gave a start at fullback to a player who has come
up through the junior ranks at the Club. The name is Bond…….Glenn Bond
(apologies to his Mum…..apparently his name is spelt with 1 ‘n’ in Bond
and 2 ‘n’s in Glenn). Allan Mitchell moved to the wing to cover for
Gareth Collins, a late withdrawal with a back injury. Another of Lions
young cubs, Karl Braband, made his first senior start after coming off
the bench last week. With Paul Thompson selling chocolates to the
Scots, Glen Carson started at 8. Jamie Tyers and Tristan Wati continued
at Prop, with Kelvin Todd returning to the bench after a bout of flu,
and the unlucky Phil Greenbury starting for the Crusaders.
Athletic paraded their new signing, Chris Richards, who
is still fondly referred to in the Shed as Cliff……..we’re an original
bunch us Sheddites!!
Glenn Bond (remember, 1 ‘n’ in Bond and 2 ‘n’s in Glenn)
made a confident start with a good catch from a testing high kick, and a
lovely touch kick to follow.
Bedford dominated possession in the opening minutes,
until Cliff Richards got ball and Hawkes at the same time, and Athletic
were penalised for holding on in trying to retrieve the situation.
Hawkes put the kick to the corner, and Lions drove in from the lineout,
but a burrowing run by Tristan Wati was halted as he ran into his own
man.
Another penalty set up a Lions attacking position, and
when Athletic were penalised again 22 metres out, up stepped Allan
Mitchell to give Lions the lead on 14 minutes. ( 3 – 0 )
Lions countered from the kick off, and good hands made
room down the left for Glenn Bond (remember, only 1 ‘n’ except when it’s
Glenn). Ricky Hyslop was in support to take the inside pass, and
Athletic were penalised again as the centre was halted on the 22……..the
same place as Mitch’s previous penalty, and the same result. ( 6 – 0 )
Lions were immediately penalised from the restart, and
Cliff Richards slotted the simple kick. ( 6 – 3 ).
It was almost the last play from Cliff before he was hurt
stemming a Lions’ attack and had to be carried off, to be replaced by
Matthew Aldwinckle.
Lions were looking bright, and a Hawkes break down the
short side almost had Mitch away, but an Athletic hand just knocked the
pass down.
Athletic were playing above their lowly League position,
and were thwarting everything that Lions threw at them with some solid
defending. It was another frustrating period for Lions supporters as
their team dominated territory and position leading up to half time, but
could not turn pressure into points.
But at last the spell was broken!! Lions drove in from
an attacking scrum, with Glen Carson crashing over. However, instead of
awarding the try, referee Ged Stone signalled a penalty to Athletic, but
after consulting with his touch judge, the referee awarded the try.
Mitch converted on the stroke of half time.
Half time
Lions 13 Bedford Athletic 3
Lions started brightly with a lovely reverse pass from
Hawkes putting Ricky Hyslop through the gap….butagain Lions
frustratingly knocked on at the breakdown.
Athletic continued to prove that they were not going to
be an easy touch as they produced a telling attack of their own. A chip
over the defence created the danger, and Ben Clarke was yellow carded
for impeding his opposite number off the ball. Alex Nash moved to the
wing to cover.
Athletic tapped the penalty to the corner, and when Lions
were penalised for shoving at the lineout, Jamie Elphick converted. (
13 – 6 )
Athletic were now playing confidently, opening up Lions
defence twice in 2 minutes, but failing to score on both occasions.
From the second of these, a lovely break by Jamie Elphick that was just
held on the line, Lions were penalised. However, the easy kick was
pushed wide.
When Lions were penalised again in the same spot minutes
later, the result was the same as Elphick’s kick again drifted wide.
With Kelvin Todd replacing Jamie Tyers who had to leave
the field with a blood injury, Athletic tried the chip over again, and
this time it brought the desired result. The bounce was perfect for
wing Andrew Bennett, and good inter-passing by the supporting backs saw
centre Philip Elphick racing over. This time Jamie Elphick (I suppose
it’s inevitable that there are a lot of Elph’s about at this time of
year) made no mistake with the conversion to bring the scores level. (
13 – 13 )
Lions were restored to full strength with the return of
Ben Clarke from the bin, and Matt Goode replaced James Hunte in the
centre.
At last Lions started to raise their game. Wilf Barclay
pounced on a loose ball to race away, but failed to spot the support and
the chance was lost. A superb Hawkes break followed, but the inside
pass failed to find its man.
With Jamie Tyers returning to the fray in place of the
limping Tristan Wati, Lions again drove in. Athletic were penalised in
a very kickable position, and with the Shed baying to take the 3 points,
the kick was tapped to the corner!! What do we know!! Lions took the
lineout and a classic drive saw Matt Davies touch down….much to the
relief of the Shed. Mitch’s conversion was well wide, but at least
Lions were back in the lead. ( 18 – 13 )
Now it was Athletic’s turn to make changes as they
replaced front row pair Shaun Stevens and Edward Swanwick with Michael
Curry and Ben Williams.
However, Lions were now starting to turn the screw and
another lovely move in the backs saw Matt Goode held just short.
Athletic were penalised, and again the ball was tapped to the corner.
This time the long throw was not straight and the chance was gone.
Lions were penalised twice as they pushed and turned the
Athletic scrum at a rate of knots. Apparently referee Ged Stone said
Lions were deliberately wheeling the scrum on both occasions, with one
prop pushing and the other pulling. A good trick if you can do it when
the scrum is moving forward. At least we know that if ever the Lions
scrum is going backwards, wheeling it will bring a penalty!!
With 5 minutes to go, Lions were still living on the
brink. A converted try would give Athletic the spoils and leave Lions
yet again to rue missed chances and make do with a losing bonus point.
But the players were having none of it.
First Scott Clendenning-Fenton, on for James Cooper at
scrum half, fired a long pass out from the base of an attacking scrum.
The ball whizzed past Hawkes at fly half, but found Ricky Hyslop hitting
the line at pace to make the initial break (answers on a postcard as to
whether it was intended!!). A lovely slipped pass from the tackle to
the supporting Matt Goode saw the centre planting the ball between the
posts to the obvious delight of the rest of the Lions team. Mitch added
the simple conversion to give Lions some welcome breathing space. ( 25
– 13 )
At last Lions were slipping into top gear. Will Jones
replaced the hobbling Glen Carson, and one huge hit was worth the
admission money alone!!
Another brilliant Hawkes break and a lobbed pass to Mitch
saw the wing cut inside for another glorious try. Again Mitch added the
conversion. ( 32 – 7 )
With Athletic still reeling they decided to run the ball
from defence. Wilf Barclay decided to join in the attack, and very
obligingly he received the perfect pass. He needed no second invitation
to spin on his heels and charge the 20 metres to the line for a try that
was well-deserved for some sterling defensive work throughout the game.
Mitch’s conversion hit the post as the referee brought the try fest to
an end.
Final result:
Lions 37 Bedford Athletic 13
Don's musings
You can’t grumble at an emphatic win and a bonus
point………but it was a long time coming. However, it was worth it in the
end.
Again Lions displayed just what they are capable of, but
only in the final purple patch. We must carry on at Blaydon where we
left off against Athletic. However, the game will not be easy, with
Blaydon coming in to it on the back of 2 good wins after languishing at
the bottom of the table for most of the season.
It was refreshing to see a good number of people staying
in the Clubhouse after the game. This was not just down to the fact
that Lions had won….although this helped!! What is refreshing this
season is the attitude of Brett Taylor and his players. For the last
couple of seasons any management or team presence in the long bar after
a game has been conspicuous by its absence. However, Brett goes out of
his way to chat to the supporters, offering views, insight and
analysis. The players are following his example, and win lose or draw,
are happy to enjoy a drink and a laugh with the supporters. It is
obvious that the players are there because they want to play for the
Lions, and are prepared to take criticism as well as praise.
We have said for a long time that we want a return to a
good Rugby club atmosphere at the Lions, and we are certainly starting
to get one.
Rumour even has it that now Lions have had a chance to
evaluate most players, they are starting to sign them for next season!!
Unprecedented…….we may actually carry most of a side through to new
season!! Now there’s something to ponder over whilst carving the
turkey!! |
