The Lions See Victory Slip Away In The Last Minute

The home side will rue the poor start to the game, conceding a try in the first two minutes when they were caught with poor defensive alignment leaving the visitors with two men over on the right allowing the right wing Mills to score wide out. The conversion attempt was completely miscued. 5-0 to Old Dunstonians.

The Lions have been guilty of conceding early scores in fact too many games this season and is a weakness they need to address because in today’s game ,which was settled by a single point, it proved crucial.
The Lions, with the wind in their favour, took control of the first half and went close to crossing the whitewash on several occasions but were denied through a resolute defence by the visitors. The Lions first score came in the fourteenth minute when Leighton Docherty slotted a penalty which was awarded for not releasing in the tackle. The Lions were enjoying a good share of possession from the breakdown with Sam Hanley, Wes Bull and Wade Roberts doing some excellent work but the backs allowed a couple of good scoring opportunities to go begging because no one in midfield straightening the line of attack before moving the ball wide. The Lions did finally get there nose in front in the 23rd minute when Docherty kicked his second penalty for a 6-5 lead.

There was no further scoring before the break which meant the home side would have to defend a slender one point lead playing into the wind.
The first twenty minutes of the second period were evenly shared with both sides looking threatening on occasions. The referee made a controversial call in the eighteenth minute of the half when he sin binned Lions fly half Anthony Hart for what he deemed a spear tackle, but had no resemblance to the definition in the law book. The visitors moved into the lead from the resulting penalty kicked by fly half J.Smith. This apparent injustice spurred the Lions into upping the tempo of their game, quickly restoring the lead when Docherty kicked his third penalty with a good strike into the wind which was again awarded for not releasing in the tackle. 9-8 to the Lions

With the game entering the final ten minutes and just one point separating the sides the scene was set for a dramatic climax and so it proved. The Lions moved into a 14-8 lead following some splendid work by the pack who, after being awarded a penalty, kicked into the corner. Winning the line out they drove for the corner and forced another penalty which was taken quickly and from setting up a driving maul Wesley Bull, who once again gave a man of the match performance, drove over in the corner taking three defenders with him.
Unfortunately for the home support this was not to be the final score as Lions hopes of a much needed four points were dashed in the final minute. The visitors were awarded three penalties in quick succession just outside the Lions 22 which they elected to run, on the third occasion the prop Whyte forced his way over near the posts. Smith converting to give his side a one point victory and leave the home side and player coach Lee Ambrose wondering what they have to do to secure that elusive win.

Team

L.Hayes, L.Ambrose, S.Hanley, W.Roberts, D.Atkinson, J.Harrington, J.Hinkins, W.Bull, J.Erskine, A.Hart,A.Moss, L.Docherty, A.Michael, M.Dorling, and J.Guy
Subs
M.Curd, S.Adcock, and J.Cowans.

This Saturday the Lions are away to Lewes, The 2nds are home to Canterbury 3rds and the 3rds are away to Canterbury 4ths