Rugby Lions completed their league campaign with a
comfortable victory over Market Bosworth at Webb Ellis Road in lovely
spring sunshine. Lions began well and when the ball was fed through the
backs, winger Sam Montague was put clear. He drew the fullback and fed
Wilf Barclay who raced for the line. As the cover came across he in turn
fed Flapper who looked likely to cross the line for the first try. He
was however tackled a metre short but whilst on his back, he popped the
ball up to Sam Montague who was agonisingly stopped inches short of the
try line. The ball was then knocked on in the ensuing maul and the
chance was lost.
Market Bosworth then had the chance of a penalty on
the home 22, but the kick was pulled to the right of the uprights. Back
came the Lions, and following a scrum on the visitor’s 22 Ricky Hislop
crossed the line for the first try. Glenn Bond converted for a 7-0 lead
on 15 minutes.
Market Bosworth were clearly not going to roll over
and were competing well all over the pitch.
Lions then scored the try of the match following a
lineout just inside the visitor’s 22-metre line.
Alex Nash rose to take the catch at the back of the
line and fed thrower Matt Davies who had scampered in field to take the
ball. The ruck was won immediately and the ball was spun to Tommy Turner
who quickly fed Hawks. He ran towards the touch line and then skilfully
slipped the ball back-handedly to the onrushing Wilf Barclay (what was
he doing there!) Wilf drew the fullback and fed Sam Montague for a
lovely score. Glenn Bond just failed with the conversion to leave the
score at 12-0.
Almost straight from the re-start, Tommy Turner
chipped the ball over the defence and a kindly bounce found the arms of
Ricky Hislop who quickly shipped the ball to Alex Nash. The flanker then
fed Hawks who passed to Dave Jackson for another well worked try. The
conversion was again missed but the score line was a more comfortable
looking 17-0.
The visitors responded well and tried running the
ball at every opportunity. They were rewarded with a penalty in front of
the posts when Lions were penalised for offside. Fly half Damien Steele
made no mistake this time. 17-3. A long clearance kick from the visiting
full back found touch 10 metres from the try line well into injury time.
The line out was won but Tommy’s clearance kick failed to find touch and
Market Bosworth ran the ball back at the home side. The visitor’s hooker
got to a metre from the touchline but lost the ball as he was tackled.
He regained possession on the floor and put the ball over the line. With
everyone waiting for the scrum for the knock-on the referee stunned the
Lion’s players and supporters by awarding a try.
Half Time Rugby Lions 17 Market Bosworth 10
The second half began a little scrappily until Dave
Clements just managed to fight his way over the line, despite a high
looking tackle. This time, Glenn Bond converted to make the score 24-10.
Jacko was replaced at scrum half by Sam Viggers after 10 minutes of the
second half.
Lions were dominating possession at this stage and
were camped in the visitors half. Following a ruck on Bosworth’s 22 the
ball was shipped via Sam Viggers and Dave Clements to the impressive Sam
Montague to touch down in the corner for his second try. Glenn just
failed again with the conversion to leave the score at 29-10.
Market Bosworth were awarded a penalty and they went
for touch in the corner in front of the clubhouse. The kick failed to
find touch and Hawks caught the ball a metre from try line. He called
for a mark (which I am not sure you are entitled to do from a penalty)
and the ref blew up. Hawks took a quick tap and was promptly tackled
after he had run about two metres. Perhaps the referee realised his
mistake as he allowed play to continue.
The visitors continued to run all the ball they won
and were a little unfortunate to be called back for a forward pass on
the half way line. Sam Montague was replaced by Tim Douglas with Hawks
reverting to the wing.
Lions lost the ball following a ruck in front of the
visitor’s posts and Bosworth ran the ball strongly to 15 metres from the
Lion’s line. As the ball came out of the ruck, Tommy Turner was judged
to have played the ball from an offside position and was promptly shown
a yellow card. The penalty was despatched to touch and the resulting
maul seemed to be held securely by the Lions until a Bosworth player
emerged with ball on the blind side to run in unopposed. The conversion
was expertly converted by Damien Steele to reduce the deficit to 29-17
with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Lions re-asserted the pressure and a repeat of the
Tommy Turner offence led to a yellow card for Bosworth’s lively scrum
half. Tim Douglas looked hungry for the ball and following a scrum to
the left of Bosworth’s posts he scampered over for an easy score under
the posts. Glenn converted for a 36-17 score line.
To their credit, the visitors kept plugging away and
a little grubber kick by fly half Damien Steele was foiled by Dave
Clements as he just beat him to the touchdown for a 22 drop-out.
Market Bosworth had the last say in the match however
when they ran the ball straight back and Damien Steele scored a lovely
try in the corner. The try scorer hit the post with the conversion
attempt from the touchline.
