The Lions Take Maximum Points

Fresh from the disappointment of losing at home to Aylesford Bulls the previous week in which they were winning with only 10 minutes to play Deal and Betteshanger Lions were determined to come away with something from this game.
The Lions made a promising start opening up a 6 point lead with two penalties from the boot of fly half Blair Charge, who was later voted The Court Yard Man of the match. The flow of the game was marred in the early stages by the number of penalties awarded against both sides for minor infringements incurred at rucks and mauls. The home side reduced the lead in the sixth minute when their fly half Mark Kozminski kicked a 40 metre penalty awarded for going over the top at a ruck. 6-3 to the Lions
The home side set up some attacking moves in the early stages but lacked both wit and the cutting edge to seriously trouble a well organised Lions defence. The battle for forward supremacy was being won by the Lions with the ball carrying of Andy Agar and Wes Bull especially impressive together with the scrummaging of the front five.. The lineouts were evenly contested with both sides winning their own throw in. The visitors moved further into the lead in the thirty third minute. A surging run by Nathan Mitford down the right flank was halted but the ball was recycled to Dan Best who beat two defenders to score wide out. 11-3 to the Lions.
This lead was reduced before the break when the Lions conceded two soft penalties which fly half Kozminski gratefully excepted and kicked both to take the score to 11-9 to the Lions.
Minutes into the second half ,against the run of play, Kozminski put his side into the lead with a penalty just inside the Lions half and ten yards in from touch. This signalled to the Lions that they had to tighten up on discipline or run risk of losing the game on penalties. Luckily this score concentrated the minds of the Lions as they went on to make their supremacy count.. First of all the sides swapped penalties with Warlingham leading 15-14 before the visitors went on to turn their superior footballing skills into points. The first score came from Warlingham conceding a penalty in their 22. The Lions opted for a scrum and winning possession scrum half Adam Michael outwitted the defence by dummying outside and then cutting back inside to score. Blair Charge convering. 21-14 to The Lions.
The Lions pack were now getting completely on top of the opposition winning quality ball in all areas. The next Lions score came from a driving scrum with Hooker Matthew Curd getting the touch down. Blair Charge converting.28-15 to the Lions.
With the game now and truly won the Lions went in search of that all important forth try which would insure a bonus point. They succeeded in this task with just minutes remaining. Being awarded a penalty the Lions elected to kick for touch and winning the resulting lineout they set up a driving maul. The ball was released and spread to Luke Armstrong who sliced through the middle of the defence to score under the posts. Blair Charge converting for a comfortable 35-15 victory and five precious points.

Reporter Gerald Griffith