EXCELLENT DEBUT FOR NEW FLY-HALF

Despite the dreadful rain of the previous days, the sunshine on the Friday and Saturday enabled the pitch to recover and the game could be played .

The Lions were strengthened by the welcome arrival of a new Fly-half , Josh Jensen from Gloucestershire, who played in Denmark last year . He showed that he can pass, tackle and exploit a gap in defence and thus the backs had a much better game than in recent times .

The forward tussle was intense and the Lions were the first to score with a penalty kicked by Jensen . The forwards continued to press the Charlton Park line and Luke Armstrong was denied a sharp try in the corner as the referee judged the pass to him to be forward, which was harsh to say the least .

The Lions were penalised for an offence at the ruck and the Park showed that they had an excellent kicker, who converted the first of many successes .

After another period of pressure from the forwards, Adam Michael fed Jensen , who glided through a gap for a good try out wide .
The Park wing punished another ruck offence with a fine penalty kick , and thus Park kept in touch with the Lions’ score .
Eventually, after another good period of play and some fast passing, Luke Armstrong scorched over for another try, which was awarded this time . Jensen converted from near the touchline .

The game continued , with the Lions and The Park contesting the forward struggle keenly . Again, successful penalty kicks , some from a long distance , were telling for the Visitors . Centre Anthony Hart suffered a blow to the head and had to leave the field and the Park managed to score a converted try . They kept out the Lions pack in the continuing dour contest and at the final whistle the score was 22 – 15 to the Visitors , the Lions having scored two tries to one .

It was an exciting game, frustrating for the Home side , and Charlton Park were very indebted to their outstanding kicker and their strong pack .

The return contest will be eagerly awaited !

Reporter David Storrie