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Lions lost yet again by the narrowest of margins in a
see-saw battle of high quality rugby, with Lions playing probably their
best all-round game for weeks. Lions scored 4 excellent tries, but
unfortunately all were wide out, and crucially none of them were
converted. Lions could have won it at the end, but a penalty from 30
metres that would normally have sailed between the posts slid
agonisingly wide, and Lions were once again wondering just what they
have to do to win.
Lions preferred the returning Matt Goode on the wing in
place of Allan Mitchell, who ended up playing at fullback when Glenn
Bond was injured in training. Andrew Kaminsa continued on the wing in
place of the recuperating Gareth Collins, and Scott Clendenning-Fenton
started at scrum half in place of the injured Dave Jackson. In the
pack, Phil Greenbury and Will Jones replaced Simon Keller and Matt
Davies, whilst with Danny Collins injured, Glen Carson moved to flanker
with Paul Thompson returning at number 8. Andy Regan was on the bench
after starring for the Crusaders last week.
Lions started brightly with some enterprising play in
their own 22 creating space for Andrew Kaminsa to race 60 metres.
Unfortunately the winger was unable to outpace the cover and was
shepherded into touch 20 metres short.
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However, a determined Lions were applying all the
early pressure, and good driving by the forwards set up the
position for the ball to be spun wide, where Alex Nash was
lurking to outpace the cover to the corner. There was some
debate as to whether he grounded the ball properly as a
despairing tackle hit him, but the touch judge was right on hand
to signal the try. Allan Mitchell’s touchline conversion fell
just short. ( 0 – 5 ) |
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Lions then had to survive a torrid 10 minutes as the
Cleckheaton pack pounded away at the line from a series of penalties and
subsequent lineout drives. Just when a score or a yellow card (or
both!!!!) seemed inevitable, Cleckheaton were forced to move the ball
inside, where Mark Sales fumbled and Thommo was on the loose ball in a
flash for Lions to clear their line at last.
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Lions were quickly down the other end of the
field with some excellent ball retention and good positional
kicking. Now it was Cleckheaton’s turn to be put under
pressure. A hasty clearance kick saw Lions with an attacking
lineout. Simon Hepher took the catch and the Lions drove
towards the line for what looked a certain score. When the maul
was stopped a metre short, Lions spun the ball crossfield, and a
long pass from James Hawken gave Matt Goode the space to sweep
over in the opposite corner. Again Allan Mitchell’s conversion
from wide out failed to hit the mark. ( 0 – 10 ) |
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The joy of the travelling Lions’ faithful was short-lived
as Lions were penalised and the ball was tapped to the corner.
Cleckheaton duly won the line and moved the ball inside, but were
stopped by a crunching Tim Douglas tackle. The centre was harshly
penalised for not rolling away from the tackle, and Scott Benton took a
quick tap (yards from the actual offence!!) for Craig Rika to crash over
in the corner. Oliver Akroyd struck the perfect conversion from the
touchline. ( 7 – 10 )
Worse was to come for Lions as they were again penalised,
and another kick to the corner saw Cleckheaton with another attacking
lineout. This time there was no clean catch, but the tap-down bounced
favourable into the arms of an attacking forward, and Lions could not
hold the drive. Oliver Ackroyd again added the conversion. ( 14 – 10
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With James Hawken suffering a blow to the face, Andy
Regan took to the field looking to build on his excellent performance
for the Crusaders last week.
Back came Lions, and when they were awarded a penalty
after an inordinately long advantage, this time Allan Mitchell made no
mistake with the simple straight on kick from 22 metres. ( 14 – 13 )
Allan Mitchell had another chance to regain the lead for
Lions on the stroke of half time with a 40 metres kick into the breeze.
Unfortunately the kick was high, wide, and not very handsome, and Lions
went in at half time 1 point in arrears and all to play for.
Half time
Cleckheaton 14 Lions 13
Lions started the second half as they had done the first,
with some good driving play putting Cleckheaton on the back foot. Will
Jones made the initial break, and good support play saw the ball moved
right, and then back left at pace, and there was that man Alex Nash out
wide again to ghost through the gap and deliver the inside pass to the
perfectly positioned Matt Goode for the wing to glide over. Again,
Allan Mitchell’s conversion drifted wide. ( 14 – 18 )
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Lions forwards were in dominant mood, and another
perfectly executed drive resulted in the inevitable penalty.
Matt Goode despatched the kick to the corner. The take was good
and the drive was on. Cleckheaton conceded another penalty in
stopping the drive, and again the kick was despatched to the
corner. Simon Hepher’s catch was good, and the forward drive
was unstoppable, with Phil Greenbury claiming the all-important
touchdown. Andrew Kaminsa took over the kicking duties from
wide out, but the result was the same as his kick fell just
short. ( 14 – 23 ) |
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Lions suffered a crucial blow at this point with Simon
Hepher being carried off with an ankle injury to be replaced by Karl
Braband.
Cleckheaton’s response was immediate. A penalty took
them deep into Lions’ territory, and when Lions were penalised again at
the resultant lineout, another quick tap saw the forwards driven over.
This time Oliver Akroyd missed the relatively simple conversion. ( 19 –
23 )
Cleckheaton again raised the tempo, and good hands and a
lovely chip to the corner had Lions scrambling the ball into touch.
Cleckheaton’s line out catch was good, but Lions stifled the initial
drive. However, Cleckheaton cleverly recycled the ball for the forwards
to power over. Again, Oliver Ackroyd missed a very kickable
conversion. ( 24 – 23 )
With 10 minutes left, there was still time for Lions to
win the game. On came Mark Ellis in place of Alex Nash to rally the
troops. But it was Cleckheaton who were now in the driving seat, and
only some excellent defensive work by a committed Lions prevented
another score.
With time running out, more superb picking up and driving
by Lions took play into the Cleckheaton half. A Lions penalty, and with
everyone screaming to have a shot at goal, Scott Clendenning-Fenton had
a rush of blood and took a quick tap. Luckily for Lions he was stopped
within a metre, and Lions were awarded another penalty, with the
Cleckheaton second row being binned for the offence. Up stepped Allan
Mitchell to take the crucial kick from about 30 metres in front of the
posts. Unfortunately the strike was not a good one and the ball slipped
agonisingly the wrong side of the posts.
Cleckheaton now sensed the win, and a couple of penalties
took them back downfield, where Lions managed to repulse another forward
drive and secure possession. Still time for one last effort, but it
just wasn’t to be, as Lions knocked on trying to find the elusive chink
in the Cleckheaton defence, and the game was lost.
Final result:
Cleckheaton 24 Lions 23
Don's musings
As a supporter, all that you can ask from your team is
100% commitment, and no-one in a Lions’ jersey in this game can be
accused of not giving their all. In fact it was probably the best
all-round rugby that Lions have played for several weeks. The lineout
worked well, the scrum was solid, there were some tremendous rolling
mauls, and the picking up and driving were exemplary. Even the backs
looked a different outfit with some incisive running and intelligent use
of the ball in hand. In defence the tackling was immense, and none of
the Cleckheaton tries could be classed as “soft”.
This was essentially a good team performance based on a
sound game plan. Whilst it is probably inappropriate to single out
individuals, Paul Thompson had a superb game at number 8, and Ricky
Hyslop in the centre is improving with every game. Simon Hepher was
immense, both in set play and in the loose, and his commanding presence
will be sorely missed if his injury means that he can’t play for few
weeks.
The only thing that was missing was the win!! It is so
frustrating that the team didn’t produce this form last week against
Tynedale. If they had, then I’m sure that they would have won
handsomely.
Again, the only consolation for Lions was the bonus point
situation. Again Lions secured a point for coming a close second, but
this week another crucial point was secured for scoring 4 tries. Lions
have now accumulated 12 bonus points…..2 more than anyone else in
Division 2 North. The fine line between winning and losing is
illustrated by the fact that New Brighton have almost the same points
for and against as Lions, yet they are in 5th place in the
league with 12 more points than Lions under their belts!!
We now have successive games against the top 2 teams in
our league. I’m sure that most supporters would settle for a bonus
point from each of these games to keep us ticking along. However, at
last there are signs that the coaching under Brett and his boys is on
the verge of delivering what has been threatened for much of the
season. We have nothing to lose in these games and I’m sure that the
players will go out with the belief that they can get something more out
of these fixtures. If today’s game is anything to go by, then we are
certainly on the right road.
So lets go out and show the league just what we can
do…….bring on Macclesfield!!
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