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Rugby Lions banished the memories of last week’s defeat to put on
a scintillating display of running rugby scoring six lovely tries on a
glorious Saturday afternoon at Webb Ellis Road. The tries were all from
Lion’s quality backs but the forwards must take great heart from the way
they competed against a bigger unit, although too many penalties were
conceded which kept Bladon in the game. The scoring
began in the second minute when Matt Goode chipped through to the corner
and James Hawken expertly flipped the ball up for Dominic Wareing to
touch down. The conversion from the touchline was missed. More excellent
play involving Tommy Turner and Matt Goode led to Ade Hales crashing
over in the left corner for the first of his four tries after eight
minutes. A couple of penalties by Blaydon’s fly half Richard Windle kept
the visitors in touch at 10-6.
Following a ruck in front of the visitor’s posts the
ball was switched to the blind side and Ade Hales outstripped a number
of defenders to score his second try with Hawken converting. Hales
completed his hat-trick following a quick tap from Toby Handley
supported by Turner who slipped the ball inside for Ade to score under
the posts. Hawken converted to make the score a very comfortable looking
27-9. At this point skipper Matt Davies left the field with an injury to
be replaced by Sam Overton. As half time approached, the Lions kept
Blaydon's hopes alive by conceding a soft try. A Blaydon line out on the
home five-metre line was tapped down to no one and Blaydon's number
eight Paul Brady ran though to score easily.
Half Time: - Rugby Lions 27 Blaydon 14
With the four try bonus point already in the bag
Rugby’s backs began to demonstrate their quality with some stunning
interplay and one of these passages of play involving all the backs led
to Hales' fourth and best try of the game. A minute later however, Lions
conceded another soft try when replacement scrum half Gavin Charlton was
allowed to sneak over unopposed from a close-in ruck.
After 68 minutes the Lions scored another superb try
from their own 22 when more intricate work involving Turner, Wareing and
Sam Viggers freed Handley to race away and dive over under the posts.
Hawken converted to make the game safe at 42-24.Blaydon scored a
consolation try on the stroke of full time when right wing Simon Barber
went over and the impressive Richard Windle converted from the
touchline.
This was one of best displays by a Lions side for a
long time against a team who just missed out on promotion last season
and was a joy to watch. Next week’s visit to Fylde and forthcoming trips
to Morley and Preston will provide a stern test of the team’s strength,
but on this performance the signs are good. |
