A Much Better Performance by the 2nd XV

There was a strong south-westerly wind, which made for difficult kicking and handling conditions but both teams coped well . The Visitors started well but once the Home side had settled down, a more interesting game developed .

T-Js scored first with a simple penalty and then the Lions pack began to contest the set and loose scrums better . Some good ground was gained by the Lions, with sound play by the Back-Row of Hunt, Elsam and Fleming . However, the sustained pressure on the T-J line was finally cleared , despite some close drives to cross the line .

Thus the second half stared with T-J in the lead by 3 points . The Lions carried on where they left off and there were some good runs and inter-play by the backs, inspired by a good display by Ben Ruffley at Stand-off, with a good run in particular by Sammy Johnson and Gavin Elsam , which almost resulted in a try . The pressure was maintained and Jake Ward on the Right Wing, produced an excellent burst of speed to round his opposition and score a good try .

Soon after, Ruffley kicked a goal and the Lions neared the end of the game in the lead . However, after another period of pressure by the forwards and backs , a good interception by a T-J back only 10 metres from their line took the ball well into the Lions territory . After a chase , he was caught but the T-J pack pressed their position and they went over for a try .
In the last minutes, the Lions came close to another score, Ruffley narrowly missed a drop- goal, and the game ended as a draw .
A close and entertaining game .

Team:

15.Topping 14.Ward 13. McLachlan. 12. Johnson 11. Fyfe 10. Ruffley 9. J. Michael 8. Hunt 7. Elsam 6. Fleming 5. Dennis 4. D. Rose Jnr 3. Sapsford 2. Dixon ( Capt) 1. Wakefield . 16. B. Kaplan

Report by David Storrie