RUGBY PICTURES: Losing bonus-point for Lions' efforts at ONs

Midlands 1 East: Old Northamptonians 26 Rugby Lions 19

The early exchanges were fairly even, but the home side were first on the scoreboard when a penalty on Lions 22 failed to find touch, writes Dave Rushall. The ball was worked wide by the home side and the try was scored in the right corner.

Despite missing Ben Nuttall and Guy Field, Lions pack were gaining the upper hand up front, and opted for a scrum when the home side were penalised ten metres out. The drive was good and Phil Reed dived over.

Straight from the restart, strong runs from Nick Walton and Andy Morrison enabled Phil Reed to feed right wing Joshua Czerpak for a lovely try. Kris McFedries converted superbly to give the Lions a 5-12 half time lead.

If Lions had the upper hand in the first period, the momentum swung heavily in ON’s favour in the second. Playing with the slope advantage, they put the visitors under severe pressure and soon tied the score thanks to their lively backs. With their tails up, the home side took the lead when their number seven strolled through to touch down under the uprights.

ON’s even began to gain the upper hand up front, and increased their lead to 12-26 with another converted try following a catch and drive.

With time running out, Lion’s eventually managed to apply some pressure of their own with some powerful drives. A series of penalties conceded by the home side on their own try line eventually resulted in a yellow card for their no.8.

Lions were determined to score and when another catch and drive was blatantly pulled down, the referee awarded a penalty try.

A losing bonus point for Rugby was at least some reward for their efforts.

Lions next play Olney at Webb Ellis Road on January 4, ko 2.15pm.