Rugby Lions - Match reports, 2003-04


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	© RugbyLions.net. Report by and pictures by Dave Rushall

	Rugby Lions once again contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by conceding two injury-time tries and gift Ionians an unlikely victory. The reaction of the home players and supporters at the final whistle said it all – they couldn’t believe their luck. With Sean Brady and Ade Hales both unavailable, Danny Facer started at number eight with Chris Murphy on the right wing. A break down the blind side by Lloyd Warner looked to be leading to a try, but he was just forced into touch two metres short of the line. Sam Viggers then burst through to cross the line but the referee deemed that the ball was held up and awarded a five-metre scrum to Lions. Hull were caught offside at the scrum and a very kickable penalty was spurned in favour of another scrum. Lloyd Warner had to leave the field at this point with what looked to be a rib injury, and was replaced by Peter Glackin. Lion’s won the ball and set up a ruck near the left touchline. With the chance of a score looking increasingly unlikely, Stuart Riding suddenly broke clear with the ball to score a trademark try with sixteen minutes on the clock. Hawken narrowly missed the conversion from the touchline. Hull replied shortly after with a penalty in front of the posts. More pressure followed from Rugby, and Hull’s lock Richard Hill was shown a yellow card for killing the ball in front of his posts. Again Lion’s opted not to take the three points on offer, and this time they messed up trying to force play. A clearance kick from the home side found Stuart Riding on half way and near the right touchline. He set off in typical fashion, skating round one defender, and handing off another. As he reached the 22, he drew three more defenders and performed a lovely one-handed pass behind his back to free Chris Murphy for a try. This time Hawken converted for 3-12 score line. For the remainder of the half, Hull threw everything at Rugby, but the visitors defended manfully to keep them out, despite being down to fourteen men when Tristan Prosser-Shaw was harshly shown a yellow card. Half Time: - Hull Ionians 3 Rugby Lions 12 Straight from the kick-off at the start of the second period, Hull were penalised, and Hawken increased Lion’s lead to 3-15. Hull number eight Daniel Hague blatantly pulled down a strong maul by Rugby, but he surprisingly escaped a yellow card. The home side had to throw caution to the wind and they put Rugby under some pressure for the next few minutes, but Lion’s defence was strong and kept them at bay. If Hague was fortunate not to receive a yellow card, Hull’s hooker was even more so. A loud blast on the referee’s whistle following his stamping on a prone player looked to warrant at least a yellow card. A severe talking to however was deemed to be sufficient punishment. Good interplay between Hawken and Michael Rust almost lead to a try in the right corner, but Rust had a foot on the touchline. As play entered the final quarter, and with Hull seemingly running out of ideas, the away victory looked on the cards. Lion’s supporters know, however, that their team has a tendency to self-destruct, and nothing is taken for granted till the final whistle. Hull got back into the game with a try in the right corner by Stephenson despite an obvious crossing offence, which took out centre Stephen Clarke, as he was about to make a tackle. The conversion was missed to leave the score at 8-15. With eighty minutes up Stuart Riding was yellow carded for an apparent deliberate knock-on – a ridiculous decision after what had previously gone unpunished. Lion’s defence suddenly crumbled and Karl Birch was allowed to stroll through and score by the uprights. He converted his own try to level the scores. Worse was to follow, and with the clock approaching eighty-five minutes, the ball was shipped to Hull’s left to wing Jo Donkin. With two defenders at hand, he was allowed to waltz through and score in the left corner. You could probably claim that Rugby were unlucky, and the yellow card for Riding probably cost them the game, but in all honesty this is far from the first time that Lion’s have thrown games away, and the character of some of the side must be in question.



	Man of the match





	Match preview
	by Dennis Keen
	Hull Ionians Preview Hull Ionians lost their home game with Rugby Lions last season 24-32. That was in November while the season was still in its infancy. When the second game was played at Webb Ellis Road it was March and Rugby by then had no realistic hope of securing promotion, while Hull Ionians were flirting with relegation. At that time the Lions had only lost one league game at home (to Preston Grasshoppers), however, they were more or less taken apart by their visitors, eventually losing by 20-41, conceding more points than in any other game that season. This season the Lions are currently in third place, but the leaders Tynedale are now almost home and dry and Leicester Lions in second place are eight points ahead of Rugby. To secure the ‘play-off’ place though, Rugby must win another eight games including that v Tynedale at Corbridge and they have to rely on others denying Leicester Lions at least two more wins. Hull Ionians have been having a better season and they are currently in sixth place, but with 43 points they are not yet ‘relegation proof’: a mere ten points separates third and eleventh. Motivation to win would therefore appear to be greater on the part of Hull. Their home record is good with a 75% win rate, whereas Rugby Lions away record is a 33% win rate. Hull Ionians: Home wins: Darlington MP; Harrogate; Leicester Lions; Macclesfield; Morley and West Park. Home defeats: Tynedale (5-8); Radford & Bingley (10-29). All things being equal a win for Hull Ionians, but if the Lions can find their magic touch they could bring back the points.