Rugby Lions - Match reports, 2003-04

Match Report - also see picture gallery

Rugby Lions secured another narrow victory with a late drop goal from Peter Glackin. After outscoring the home team by three tries to one, Morley must have been contemplating how they lost this match on their return journey to Yorkshire. The fact that they did was mainly down to a very bad day at the office for their kicker Glenn Boyd who only managed to convert one out of five attempts at goal. This was in stark contrast to Rugby’s James Hawken who failed to miss, managing to complete one conversion and three penalties.

Although in mid-table, Morley are not clear of the relegation dog fight and rather surprisingly given the Lion’s position, they appeared to want the win more than the home side. The early exchanges were fairly even with Morley dominating the lineout and Rugby having the edge in the scrums. James Hawken slotted a penalty when the visitors were penalised for offside, and shortly after Boyd failed for the visitors with his first penalty attempt.

A storming run from Wilf Barclay down the right hand touchline in front of the shed was halted when he was brought down on the visitor’s 22-metre line and the chance was gone. A quick tap penalty by Morley’s Scott Benton led to centre Pete Murphy touching down in front of the clubhouse. Boyd missed the conversion. Lions responded immediately and the visitors were defending their try line desperately. After a series of sniping runs, Pete Glackin crashed over the line under the posts for a converted try.

Half Time: -Rugby Lions 10 Morley 5

Rugby made a couple of changes at half time with Ade Hales being replaced by Tim Douglas and Tommy Booth coming on for Neil Underhill. A strong run from Tommy Booth led to the visitors infringing in the subsequent ruck, and Hawken converted the penalty.

A lovely bit of skill from Matt Goode in his own 22 when he chipped the ball over the visitor’s backs and collected to set up Michael Rust down the right wing looked likely to lead to a try, but after slipping the ball to James Hawken, Glenn Boyd knocked the ball out of Hawk’s grasp for a knock on and scrum to Rugby. After disputing the decision too strongly the referee awarded a penalty to the Lions and James Hawken did the rest to give a more comfortable looking 16-5 score line.

Morley were not going to go home without a fight and began to apply severe pressure to the Lion’s defence. Matt Goode, who was declared fit following a thumb injury incurred in the Darlington match, then appeared to be knocked out following a clash of heads in the act of making a tackle, and after a lengthy delay was stretchered off the pitch. Nick Sharpe came on to replace Matt with Wilf Barclay moving to centre.

The pressure from the visitors was maintained and it was no surprise when number eight Dave Hopton scored near the uprights. Glenn Boyd was successful on this occasion to reduce the deficit to 16-12. Morley were camped in Lion’s 22 at this stage and the home side were defending desperately. The visitors were keeping the ball alive well with big flanker Craig Field having a storming game, and lock Matt Challinor dived over from close range to give Morley the lead. Glenn Boyd however missed the simple conversion when he hit the post and the lead stayed at one point.

With time running out, Morley were retaining possession and looking to play the clock down and Rugby were living off scraps and finding it difficult to get out of their own half. A rare error by Morley on their own lineout led to a storming drive by the Lion’s pack. The ball was recycled and Dave Jackson fed Peter Glackin who dropped a superb goal to give the Lions a lead of 19-17. The drama was not over yet, however as Morley were awarded a penalty just inside Lion’s half. With the referee indicating the last play, the penalty attempt was a must, and similar to the Lion’s last match, the result depended on the last kick of the game. The kick from Glenn Boyd was straight enough, but didn’t quite have the distance and dropped under the bar as the final whistle went.

This was Rugby’s poorest performance at home this season and they can consider themselves very fortunate to win this game. They will certainly need to step up a gear or two next week when they visit Macclesfield in a bid to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Man of the match

Wilf Barclay

Match preview

by Dennis Keen

Morley Preview

The Lions had the benefit of another away win on their last outing but, as far as timing was concerned, it was about as close as the French win over Ireland in Dublin last Sunday. Blaydon obligingly lost to Leicester Lions but Tynedale overcame Macclesfield to leave the Lions still in touch, but still in third place. Preston have now replaced Fylde in fourth place, just two points behind.

The first game against Morley, in Yorkshire was Rugby’s first away win after losses at West Park and Fylde. Morley suffered more losses thereafter and fell off the early pace to a mid-table position. Of late home wins against Preston and Mowden Park have been their best days.

Morley’s league stats so far are: Currently in 8^th place with 8 wins, 9 defeats and a draw. Home wins include Darlingtons, Hull, Leicester, Orrell, Preston and Tynedale. Cleckheaton is Morley’s only away win to date. Rugby and Blaydon inflicted home defeats while defeats on the road comprise Darlington MP, Fylde, Hull, Macclesfield, Preston, Tynedale and West Park. The draw was at home to Cleckheaton

Including this season’s game, Morley and Rugby have played seven league games since 1994 with five wins to Rugby and two to Morley. The one Pilkington Cup game in 1990 was won by Rugby at Scatcherd Lane. Of nine friendly games played between 1977 and 1993, Morley won seven

It goes without saying that, if promotion is to be the prize this season, every game is a must win game. There is no reason to expect that Saturday’s game will be any easier than the game against Fylde and the team’s attitude on that occasion was just right. A repeat performance will do us nicely. Just think about how good it felt after winning that game.

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