National 2 North - Lions and Tigers
A much changed Sedgley Park Tigers ran out against Leicester Lions; most telling was the absence of club captain, Juan Crous. The away team elected to play its first half rugby with the wind at their backs. The Lions set out their stall from the first kick, collecting the maul and using a powerful driving maul to march the ball forward towards the half way line. Surprisingly, that was the only moment in the first half that the Lions forwards gained any ascendancy.
The Tigers pack did not set a foot backwards in the scrum and based on this aspect of their game the away team dominated possession. With a helpful wind Collins and Riley kept the Lions pinned in their own half, to the immense credit of the Lions, their defence held firm and they conceded very few penalties. When penalties were awarded, Collins slotted the kick for the Tigers and with minutes to go in the first half, the Tigers led by 9 – 0
With moments remaining the Lions put siege to the try line and it was the Tigers who were to give a penalty in front of the posts that Boden kicked. Unlike the Lions defensive work, the Tigers gave the penalty away but saw Collins receive a Yellow Card.
The first ten minutes of the 2nd half was intense amongst the forwards, with the Tigers front row exerting huge pressure at scrum time but also in the loose. A try looked certain for the Tigers but McShane’s pass was intercepted by his opposite number, Emery. He showed great pace to run the length of the field; 10 -9 to the Lions
The try boosted the Lions confidence and they secured a lineout on the 22 and from that, ran a training ground backs move, with the inside pass executed perfectly for Benjamin to score; 17 – 9. Seventeen unanswered points whilst Collins was off the pitch; 20 – 9. The Tigers went back to their powerful scrum and lineout; Matthews hitting the jumper and Greville going over for the try. In difficult conditions, Collins did well to convert; 20 – 16
From the restart there was a serious injury to the Tigers second row; it looked a high tackle that knocked the player unconscious; the referee blowing quickly. The whistle was not for the injury but a penalty for the Lions. A 10 minute halt to the game whist the injured player was attended to. Boden slotted the penalty to make it 23 – 16
The Tigers raced forward again and used their scrum to pin the Lions on their line. Four consecutive scrums dominated by Ashcroft, Matthews and Greville. This intensity opened the space for Andy Riley to touch down. Collins converted and it was 23 – 23. The Tigers made 3 quick replacements for the final 10 minutes of play; they sensed victory. The urgency to get a win resulted in a period of sloppy play and the away team gifted the Lions two needless penalties, one converted to take the Lions to a 26 -23 lead; and the Tigers had another player yellow carded. The final 3 minutes saw the Tigers rush forward but as in the first half it was the Lions defence that held firm.
