Match report and pictures by Dave Rushall

Rugby Lions deservedly won this vital top of the table clash to revenge their earlier defeat at Bedford and to keep their title winning aspirations on course.

Lions drafted in their second debutant second row in two weeks to bolster injuries and unavailability with Matt Lister from Loughborough University partnering Paul Thompson.

The first 30 minutes of play was fairly even with the Lions just shading the territorial advantage.

Then Phil Greenbury picked up on half-way and went on a charge. Jacko fed Tommy Turner who switched the ball inside to Hawks who then found Alex Nash on Ath’s 22.Glen Carson drove to the visitor’s 5 metre line and set the ball up for Matt Davies to crash over for the first try. Glenn Bond converted for a 7- 0 lead. Lions influential captain James Hawken sustained a broken left hand in the second minute of play but manfully completed the match with no reduction in his contribution to Lion’s cause.

Phil Greenbury then made a telling tackle on the away side’s winger who was penalised for not releasing. From the resulting line-out, a ruck formed and Jacko produced a piece of magic for Lion’s second try. With his back to Ath’s try line, he deftly chipped over his head and Hawks won the race to the ball for a great touch down. Glenn Bond hit the post with his conversion attempt.

Lions then had to weather a period of pressure from Bedford just before the break, which ended when an attacker was penalised for running into a team-mate

The second period began with Bedford appearing a little jaded and it wasn’t long before Lions were on the attack again. From a line-out 10 metres out on the shed side, Tommo took the catch and the home pack set off on a drive at a great rate of knots which Bedford were unable to repel.

Matt Davies was the try scorer for his second of the match. Glenn Bond converted brilliantly from near the touch-line for a 19 – 0 lead.

Bedford responded well and ran every ball they won although Lion’s resolute defence stood up well. Wilf Barclay was however shown the yellow card after twenty minutes for apparently entering a ruck from the side. This is only a guess as the referee made no indication of the offence. The resultant penalty was kicked to touch for a line-out 5 metres out and the catch and drive against a depleted home pack proved successful for Bedford’s first try. The conversion went over to make the score 19-7.

Lions managed to hold out Bedford fairly comfortably until Wilf’s return when Denzil Evans replaced Tommy Turner at fly half. Play continued to be very competitive with Ath continuing to throw the ball at every opportunity.

With 40 minutes showing on the clock Rugby won a lineout on their own 22 metre line. With at least three Bedford backs appearing to be yards offside, Denzil Evans had no option but to kick for touch. Having won the resultant line-out, Ath had to run the ball and despite an apparent forward pass and knock-on the inside centre crossed under the posts for a converted try.

With the home side’s record of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in injury time, the Lion’s supporters might have feared the worst. This time, however the Lions got it right. They kept the play simple with a series of pick and drives to see time out.

Last Saturday the Lions completed one half of their ‘big two’ fortnight with a convincing win over Dudley Kingswinford at Heathbrook, for which display there were a few superlative phrases uttered by the travelling support. Rugby and Bedford Athletic are neck and neck but some things are changing at the top of the league table as Luton fall further back in the field and Scunthorpe ‘come up on the rails’. Bedford, however, are very much where they have always been and they show little sign of relaxing their grip. Rugby’s insurmountable mountain of points difference is the only thing that separates the two teams.

Having played the full complement of fourteen league games, the ‘Ath’ are equal with Rugby on 24 points. They have six home wins, against Bromsgrove, Burton, Dudley K, Kettering Rugby and Walsall, but they lost to Luton and Scunthorpe. They still have a perfect record away from home with wins against Burton, Dunstablians, Luctonians, Luton, Market Bosworth and Walsall. Their largest margin of victory was 48-12 at home to Walsall.

After their display last Saturday Rugby have proved that they are more than capable of reversing the result of last year’s game at Wentworth Drive, but one hopes that their coach will remind them of the reasons why that match was lost. The Lions have won seven out of eight games since that October day and the team has noticeably matured in the passing time. This is another match when bodies have to be put on the line. Go for it Lions!

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