Defensive Mistakes Cost Lions Dearly

It seems the Lions, following a run of defeats, have lost the art of finishing off opponents when in the ascendency.
The Lions made a strong start and moved into the lead on the ten minute mark, following a driving ruck near the home side’s line. No 8 Joseph Hinkins picked up and drove over. Leighton Docherty adding the conversion. 7-0 to the Lions.
The Lions continued to dominate the early exchanges camping in and around the home side 22. The pressure resulted in the Sevenoaks No 7 Ian Collins being yellow carded following three offside offences in the red zone in the space of two minutes. The home side reduced the lead with a penalty by Fullback John Barber in the 20th minute. With the half entering the last twelve minutes a lapse in the Lions midfield defence allowed centre Rob Unwin to glide through some half hearted tackling to score under the posts. Barber converting for a 10-7 lead.
The Lions indiscipline cost them minutes later when, after conceding a penalty some 48 metres out, they contested the decision leading the referee to advance the kick ten metres turning a difficult kick into an easy one which was duly converted by Barber for a 13-7 lead.
The Lions supremacy at the scrums led to their second try when, driving a scrum eight metres out, Scrum Half and Captain Adam Michael picked up and drove through the opposition backs to score to the right of the uprights. Docherty converting to put the Lions into a slander 14-13 lead at the break.
The visitors made a promising start to the second half adding to their lead in the early minutes with another superb effort by Adam Michael who scored wide out.19-13 to the Lions
The game had now developed into a nip and tuck affair with neither side able to dominate. The eventual result was decided midway through the half when the home side scored nineteen unanswered points, exploiting some poor alignment in the Lions defensive line to score three tries and two conversions. The first by left Wing Matt Dodds. The others by the centre pairing of Rob Unwin and Simon Tree, two of which converted by Fullback Barber. 32-19 to Sevenoaks.
One would have thought these scores put the game beyond the Lions with time running out, but to their credit, they went all out to close the thirteen point deficit with renewed vigour. Sevenoaks held firm until the final minute when man of the match Adam Michael finished a bout of pressure to score to the right of the posts. Docherty converting to give the Lions something from the game, securing a bonus point for the four tries and a further point for finishing within seven points of the Sevenoaks score.

The Lion played some good rugby for large parts of this game but will be disappointed that lapse in defensive concentration cost them dearly
Team

D.Best, C.Thatcher, N.Mitford, A. Hart, L.Docherty, A. Michael, S.Hanley, M.Curd, A.Hollingworth, W.Bull, W.Roberts, J.Harrington, S.Cullis, J Hinkins and A. Moss

Subs
L. Ambrose

This Saturday the Lions have a difficult fixture away to league leaders East Grinstead. The 2nd’s are at home to Ash and the 3rd’s are away to Gravesend. All Kick Offs 2.15 pm

Reporter Gerald Griffiths