Rugby Lions secured their third
away victory of this campaign with a hard fought win over newcomers to
the national league Caldy. Lions rested Tristan Wati with Jamie Tyers
replacing him to join Matt Price and Siveter in the front row. Stuart
Riding resumed his position in the second row following a back injury,
with James Wadey reverting to the bench.
On a bright afternoon, but with
a strong crosswind straight off the Irish Sea, Lion’s began well and
utilised the wind, which was slightly in their favour. An early penalty
attempt from James Hawken just inside Caldy’s half was pushed wide of
the posts by the wind.
A huge clearance kick from Matt
Goode just failed to find touch on the home 22, but was knocked-on by
the defender as he attempted to pick up. The scrum was duly won, and
nice interplay between Glackin and Viggers set Goode off on a storming
run. The ball was quickly moved left and up popped James Hawken to score
Lion’s first points of the day. Hawken also slotted the conversion for a
seven-point lead. A huge up-and-under from ex Irish international Simon
Mason was defended poorly by Rugby on their 22, and the home side ran
through with the try line beckoning and a score looking likely. To their
credit, Lion’s somehow got back to bundle the ball carrier into touch
two metres from the try-line.
After Lion’s were penalised for
jumping early at a lineout, Caldy exerted severe pressure through their
pack, and although this was repelled, they swung the ball out wide to
the left, where the winger danced round the defenders to score in the
corner. The conversion was missed, but Caldy were back in contention.
Lion’s seemed to go off the boil at this point, and a number of errors
crept into their play. A penalty for Caldy, converted by Mason, gave
them a slim half time lead at 8-7.
Half Time: - Caldy 8 Rugby Lions
7
Phil Greenbury replaced Tyers at
half time and captain Toby Handley was forced to leave the field with a
fat lip and a groin strain. Clark came on at centre with the versatile
Viggers reverting to scrum half.
Caldy started the second half
brightly, and when Brady was penalised for not releasing following a
pick up from the base of a scrum, the referee allowed a quick
tap-penalty for once. Lion’s defenders were deemed to be less than 10
metres away, and Mason increased the home side’s lead to 11-7. Straight
from the kick-off, James Hawken was on target with another penalty to
reduce the deficit to one point. With the wind in their favour, the home
side were sensing a win and were beginning to look threatening.
Another penalty attempt from
Simon Mason shaved the post and Lion’s managed to clear their lines.
Rugby then secured a good deal of possession, and you could sense that
their pack was beginning to gain the upper hand. A lovely chip and chase
from Steve Clark was scrambled into touch, and Lion’s pack got their
rolling maul into operation. Caldy defended manfully, but the momentum
was with the visitors and they drove over the line. The referee was
presumably unsighted and gave Lion’s a five-metre scrum. Rugby were then
penalised for not binding correctly and Caldy must have been mightily
relieved to be able to clear the danger. The relief was short lived,
however and Lion’s soon got their maul back into operation and at a
great rate of knots. This time they were not to be denied, and Siveter
claimed the touchdown. Hawks narrowly missed the conversion, but the
lead was four points and with the light fading and the temperatures
dropping, Lion’s faithful band of supporters were made to sweat as
Lion’s held out for a vital victory.
