Rugby Lions U11s - 5 points v Old Leams - 20 points

Richard Ramstens fledgling team in only their second game together came up against a well organised experienced OL’s side. Despite some resolute defensive play by the young Lions, the OL’s managed to score several tries in the first half. In the second half a resurgent Lions side put in a superb defensive display and not only managed to limit the OL’s to 4 tries for the game, but with the very last play of the game, Jordan Macdonald went over for the teams first try of the season.

Rugby Lions U11s 45 points v Old Leams 15 points

A new confident Lions team took to the pitch for a second game and despite conceding 3 tries in the first half, ran away with this game with a bullying performance. Now that they knew where the try line was there was no stop to their attacking movement. This, twinned with the same defensive play from the first game, gave them a well deserved victory. Try scorers were Jordan Macdonald 3, Jason Moyse 2, Kaeden O’Neill 2, Jack Swift and Aaron Martin with 1 each.

Congratulations to all the U11’s team: Lewis Arbuthnott, Oliver Beight, Kezia Bull, Hugh Deery, Concobhar Jolliffe-Grimes, Jordan Macdonald, Aaron Martin, Jason Moyse, Jordan Murray, Kaeden O’Neill, Zanesh Phillips, Tom Saunders, Rachel Scott, Jack Swift, Kalib Townsend, Jonathan Wheater and Jack Worrall-Soper.

What a cracking game of Rugby this was.  Lions matched ON’s in every aspect and for 15 minutes in the first half (against the slope and the wind) they were untouchable, winning a constant stream of possession for the backs to probe and cut their way through the opposition almost at will.  Shaun Smith put in a classy performance to score all 5 of Rugby’s tries with Zac Baldwin converting two. Shaun Smith was voted ‘Player of the Month’ and James Scott ‘Man of the Match’ but in truth, the whole squad deserve a mention for their skill, character and power. 

Squad: Amritvir Somal, Alex Kukielko, James Saunders, Tom Lenton, Ton Stancer, Alex Andersen-Doig, Kyle Webster, Daniel Martin, Ben Warman, Jonny Ure, Tom Swindell, Rich Bannister, Tom Reeve, Harry Parsons, Shaun Smith, Zac Baldwin, Robert Chan, Stitch Loydall, James Scott, Rory Holmes.

Rugby Lions U14s – 5 points v Old Northamptonians – 12 points

The Lions worked very hard to contain a very well drilled ON's side. Playing with the wind , Rugby had several attacks out wide with Ed Scott, Tom Fidley and Liam Hobson playing well. Rugby were solid, not allowing ON's time or space to create attacks. It was Rugby who scored first when Rugby were awarded a penalty for offside. From this Jake Wagstaff scored from close range with Dylan just missing the conversion. ON's were putting the Lions scrum under pressure which didn't allow Rugby any fluency in attack. Rugby's defence was awesome, "G" Matthews , Harry Ellis and Robert Mackenzie working very hard.
ON's made a few changes up front which secured them quick ruck ball. From this they managed to work the ball up field and from the resulting ruck moved the ball wide quickly after the Lions defence had been stretched. ON's kicked the conversion giving them a slender 5-7 lead. Rugby struggled to get any quality possession to their backs as ON's put lots of pressure in defence.
With 5 minutes left ON's scored in the corner after Rugby failed with a clearance kick.
This was a much better team performance from the Lions. All the players worked for each other.

The slight chill couldn’t spoil the perfect playing conditions. Determined to make amends for their previous encounters against the Lions Old Northamptonians came out of the block with power and aggression and soon had the half under their control.

The boys renowned for their skill and strength decided to alter the game plan and play an expansive game that opened the door for Northampton to poor through and by half time they found themselves on the back of a 19 to 0 grubbing.

Keeping the ball more in hand the second half became the game the coaches had envisaged. A hard evenly fought contest with poor decision or simple mistakes making the difference. The game though lost was salved with a superbly worked try finished off by Skez – unconverted.

So what maketh the man, taking the rough with the smooth. How they respond to this is what will make the team. Well done to Northampton for an excellent performance we can’t wait for the return fixture. Man of the match goes to Luke for his relentless aggression in the loose, well done to you.

This was the best performance of the season thus far by the Lions. From the outset the Lions took the initiative and playing with the wind the backs launched a full length of the pitch attack and Jack "Tait" Tompkins was unlucky not to score. ONs however, took the lead by returning a loose clearance for a try through their fast backs. Lions then hit back with a well executed backs move of their own in which Miller drew the entire defence to set Harrington clear to score. Bentham converted the try and the Lions were in the ascendancy.

Great work by the entire pack kept the Lions in the ON's 22 and from a ruck Tom Pawsey dived over and again Bentham added the extras. Disaster struck with the loss of Tom Pollard who was injured trying to avert a second ON's score from their back division, however Grant Gordon substituted with aplomb as half time approached. With a mere two point lead and playing uphill into a stiff wind the omens did not look good.

Both scrum halves James Mills & replacement Jacob Rowland had sterling performances and delivered great accurate ball for the backs to use. The rearguard action required to keep ONs out was exhausting and only well organised defences, several last gasp defensive tackles and superb defensive rucking and mauling prevented the ONs from scoring.

At the final whistle the Lions had kept out the opposition and had won by the narrowest of margins. Well done Rugby Lions.