Forget the final score – the result of this game was
in the balance until the final whistle, and the fact that Rugby came
away with nothing was a complete travesty. For the fourth time out of
five games this season, Lion’s conceded a breakaway try with the last
play of the game, and this time it gave Preston a try bonus point they
did not deserve, and robbed themselves of a losing bonus point.
With new signing Kirk picking up an injury playing
for the crusaders last week, Lions were due to field the same team as
last week, but Shaun Brady failed a late fitness test just before
kick-of which saw the return of stalwart Paul Thompson at number eight.
Rugby started brightly with the forwards putting
pressure on with a series of pick and drives and were rewarded with a
penalty in the second minute. The kick was scuffed wide of the uprights
by James Hawken. Back came Rugby and a lovely chip by Tommy Turner (a la
Wilkinson) for winger Dom Wareing was just knocked on. The home pack,
despite their huge size advantage, were being put under severe pressure,
and were penalised for not driving straight at a scrum. This time, from
virtually the same position, Hawken converted the penalty. On a rare
visit to Rugby’s 22, the visitor’s tactics of putting Turner at outside
centre when defending set-pieces seemed to backfire when Hoppers moved
the ball wide and their centre ran through unopposed for a converted
try.
Lions came straight back and after 19 minutes, more
forward drives sucked in the defence, allowing Toby Handley to scamper
over for a trademark try. The conversion was missed to leave the
visitors with the slenderest of leads. Preston were looking totally
inept at this stage, committing a series basic handling errors, and
following a quick tap penalty, Sam Viggers crashed right through an
attempted tackle for Lion’s second try. Hawken converted to give the
visitors a 7-15 lead after 25 minutes. More flowing play from Rugby was
halted when Preston’s hooker Sands killed the ball at a ruck and was
shown a yellow card by the referee, who had an excellent game. Hawken
converted to extend the visitor’s lead.
Preston finally got into the Lion’s half and were
rewarded with two late penalty goals to make the half time score 13-18.
Poor reward for all Rugby’s dominance.
Half Time: - Preston 13 Rugby Lions 18
Rugby continued to apply the pressure in the second
half despite Tristan Prosser-Shaw rather harshly receiving a spell in
the sin-bin for offside at a ruck. A drop goal attempt from Turner was
just wide, before Hawken increased Rugby’s lead after 60 minutes when
the home side were penalised, again for off-side at a ruck, although the
cards stayed firmly in the referee’s pocket this time.
For the first time in the match, Preston began to use
their huge pack to pressurise Rugby, and Matt Price was binned for
pulling down a maul. Hoppers went for touch and despite spirited defence
from Lion’s depleted pack, they eventually drove over for a try. The
conversion from the touchline was missed and with fifteen minutes left
the score was 18-21. Paul Thompson then went down with what was
obviously a serious ankle injury and it was a bit sickening to see two
home players suggesting he was time wasting and should get off the
pitch. Eventually a rickety old stretcher was bought on to take Paul off
for treatment.
Danny Facer came on to replace him.
For the first time in the match, the home side were
on top, although the Lions were defending manfully. With the clock
nearing 40 minutes, Rugby were mysteriously penalised at a lineout and
it was obvious that the home side were going to use their bulk to try
and bulldoze over the line. Lions held out for a number of phases, but
the pressure was incessant and the try was eventually scored to put the
home side in front with only injury time left.
Lions brought on Ade Hales for Rust and threw
everything at Preston in an effort to regain the lead they had held for
most of the game. Despite some spirited runs and being camped on the
home 22 their efforts were in vain and in a cruel twist of fate were
robbed even of a bonus point when a Preston player picked the ball out
of Lion’s ruck to set up the final break away try. For the second week
running Preston had got out of jail, and it is difficult to see who can
challenge Tynedale for the automatic promotion place. It will not be
Preston on this performance. Lions travel to Morley next week and are in
desperate need of a win. If they can play as they did today, and get
their share of good fortune this should not be a problem.
