RUGBY: Lions recover from early tries to win with strong defence

Midlands 1 East

Rugby Lions 16 Peterborough 12

The opening exchanges were fairly even, but poor ball retention and basic errors allowed the visitors’ impressive full back to score two well-worked tries, writes Dave Rushall.

One of these was converted by their versatile second row, who took all the kicks and threw the ball in at the line-outs!

Lions began to apply some pressure and Josh Lockley crossed the try line, but the ball was deemed to be held up. The ball was duly won at the resulting scrum, and Kris McFedries threw a long pass out to Daniel Parrington on the right wing. Despite having two defenders in front of him, he jinked his way over the line in typical fashion. For the remainder of the half, Peterborough were pinned in their own 22, but it stayed 5-12 at half time.

A strong run by McFedries reached the visitors’ 22. Joe Higgins spotted the space and swung a long pass out to Phil Reed. He drew the last defender before feeding Josh Czerpak on the left wing for an easy run in.

Peterborough were still looking very threatening with ball in hand, and were testing Lions’ defence to the limit.

Peterborough were penalised for killing the ball in front of their posts and McFedries slotted the penalty to put Lions ahead for the first time.

An interception by Theo Knight on Lions’ 22 put him on a clear run for the line, but he was deemed offside, and the visitors’ chance to regain the lead drifted wide of the uprights.

Lions had the last say following good interplay after Ben Nuttall had stripped the ball on his own 22. Mishka Huczmann switched the ball inside to Parrington who streaked for the line and was only halted by a high tackle. McFedries’ kick made it 16-12.

Lions withstood the inevitable onslaught by the visitors to hold on for an important victory. A very competitive and entertaining contest that could have gone either way.

The fact that Lions did not concede a point after 18 of the match says much about their defence.

There’s no first team game this week but the Crusaders take on Berkswell & Balsall at Webb Ellis Road at 2.15pm.