The Lions 2nd Half Fight Back Not Enough

The Lions who were still without a number of first team regulars knew that they would have to lift their game to another level to beat their Sussex opponents. The game opened in bright sunshine with the lower slopes of the Sussex downs providing a pretty back drop. The Lions made a disastrous start leaking a try in the first three minutes. They first failed to deal with a rolling ball in their 22, allowing Brighton to gain possession and spread the ball left for the wing to score. The outside centre converting for a 7-0 Lead.
The early minutes saw the home side dominating possession. It came as no surprise when they added a second try. The left wing was allowed acres of space to gallop in for his and his side’s second try.12-0 to Brighton.
The visitors, who had been caught cold in the opening minutes, gradually began to get their game together moving the match into a much more even contest. With the lions getting into scoring positions on several occasions without being able to get across the white wash. The visitors problems were compounded midway through the half when they lost the services of one of their most influential players, No 8, Wesley Bull with knee and ankle problems. The Lions improved play was undone by another defensive lapse when the inside centre ,receiving the ball on half way, was allowed to run through the middle of the Lions defence untouched to score ten metres in from the corner. 17-0 to Brighton
The Lions gifted the home side another score before the break, conceding a penalty for not releasing in the tackle. Kicked by the outside centre for a 20-0 lead at the break.
Although conceding that the home side were worthy of their big half time lead and being in the top half of the table, they were eminently beatable as the second half was to prove with the Lions outscoring them by 15 Points to 3. The Lions first score of the half was to prove the best try of the game. A fine individual effort by fly half Ollie Best who, receiving the ball just inside his own half, chipped over the top of the first line of defence to re-gather and repeat the act, out speed the full back, and score a memorable try. Unfortunately his kicking boots had deserted him in this game and, although kicking the conversion, he missed three further kickable penalties. 20-7 to Brighton.
One player to catch the eye in the Lions improved performance in the second half was replacement Alistair Chamberlain whose commitment was never less than 100%.The Lions reduced the leeway further with another Best penalty, awarded when a Brighton wing forward deliberately came offside at a maul, earning him ten minutes in the sin bin.20-10 to Brighton.
The Lions were right in the game at this stage winning a good supply of ball with a much improved display at the breakdown. The Lions gave away a penalty with 15 minutes remaining awarded for a Lions player guilty of not releasing. The Brighton inside centre converting. 23-10 to Brighton.
With the minutes ticking away the Lions main hope of taking something from the game was to gain a losing point by getting within 7 points of the Brighton score. This they very narrowly failed to do when Nathan Mitford crashed over for a try wide out. The conversion attempt failed leaving them just one point short of their goal. Final Score 23-15 to Brighton.
On reflection the home side were just about worthy of their victory with the Lions left to rue their poor first half performance.
The Lions 1st Xv have no game this Saturday. The 2nds are at home to Tonbridge Juddians. The 3rds are away to Tonbridge Juddians. All kick off’s 2.30 pm

Reporter Gerald Griffiths