The Lion's win a thriller against Warlingham

But it was not just the win that excited them but the manner in which it had been achieved playing good fifteen man rugby.
The visitors arrived at the drill field confident of victory having looked at the Lions recent form but it took no longer than the first ten minutes to realise that they would be deluding themselves to continue with that view against a full strength Lions side, showing six changes from their last game.
Never the less it was the visitors who opened the scoring with a penalty by their full back after the Lions infringed at a ruck. The home side were forced into a substitution in the fifteenth minute when young full back Jamie guy had to leave the field with a groin injury. Dan Best moved to full back with Mitch Halpin coming on in his place.
The Lions supremacy in the tight was to lead to their opening score midway through the half. Having exerted pressure in the visitors 22 through driving mauls they were awarded a penalty. The Lions choose the scrum option and drove the visitors over the line for No 8 Joseph Hinkins to get the touchdown. Ollie Best kicking the difficult conversion from wide out. 7-3 to the Lions
One aspect of the Lions play which has been strong all this season has been the tight play of the forwards and today was no exception with them bossing their opponents in both tight and loose. Ollie Best improved the lead with a penalty. 10-3 to the Lions.
It was the Lions who had bossed the first quarter but the visitors suddenly got their game together and strung together some threatening three quarter moves. They reduced the lead with 15 minutes of the half remaining with a penalty by the fullback to spark ,what was to prove, an interesting kicking dual between him and Ollie Best with honours even at the end of the day.Ollie Best added another penalty and minutes before the end of the half the visitors tied the scores when a good three quarter move ended in a try by their inside centre and converted by their fullback. 13-13.
The second half was to prove one of fluctuating fortunes with the lead changing hands on a couple of occasions.. The first ten minutes saw both kickers slotting penalties for a 16-16 score. There then followed what the home support was hoping for with two decisive scores by the Lions. The first by Lions second row Wes Bull who, receiving ball after pressure by the pack just ten metres from the visitors line, dummied to go for the corner then came inside to leave four defenders stranded.21-16 to the Lions
The game at this stage was coming to the boil with no one sure what would be the final outcome. With fifteen minutes remaining the Lions opened up a twelve point gap when skipper Adam Michael, who needs no second invitation when he sees the white wash, crashed through two defenders to score to the right of the posts. Ollie Best converting. 28-16
This was proving to be a game in which neither side was prepared to accept defeat and one which had supporters of both sides biting their nails. The visitors showing great resolve refused to throw in the towel and came back to take a two point lead with two converted tries. The first scored by their scrum half and the second by their outside centre. 30-28 to Warlingham.
With the game having just nine minutes remaining it looked as though the Lions would once again have victory snatched from their grasp but on this occasion the God’s were on their side. Putting pressure on the visitors inside their 22 they twice won penalties and elected to kick into the corner winning both line outs . On the second occasion the ball was fed to Adam Michael who delivered a pass to centre Anthony Hart who got over in the corner to win a thrilling hard fought encounter.33-30 to the Lions
Both sides are to be congratulated for providing a game of rugby that held the crowd’s attention for the full 80 minutes.

Team

J.Guy, N.Mitford, A.Hart, D.Best,L.Armstrong, A.Michael,o.Best, Hayes,M.Curd,A.Hollingworth, A.Chamberlain,. W.Bull, L.Docherty, J.Harrington and J.Hinkins

Subs

M.Halpin, L.Ambrose, S.Hanley

This weekend the Lions are away to Old Dunstonians, The 2nd’s are at home to Snowdon and the 3rd’s away to East Peckham.

Reporter Gerald Griffith