OPENING DAY LEAGUE WIN FOR LIONS

After the disappointing cup exit at Shrewsbury, the Lions opened the 2015-16 league campaign with a great win at home to promoted Harborne by 55-17.

The visitors arrived with the reputation of having a very good back line but discovered very quickly that there was a gulf in class between Midlands 3 and 2. Their backs will adjust to the pace of this league but they were taught a lesson in defensive organisation and speed of thought in attack, where man of the match Ben Tibbetts, Cass Brookes and, until he went off injured during the first quarter, Ben Trinham ran the show.

The first two tries came in the first 10 minutes, with Will Fallows, looking very sharp on the left wing, rounding off two fine moves to leave the Lions 12-0 up with one successful Trinham conversion. Credit Harborne, back they came on 12 mins with a converted try for 12-7 and some pressure on the Lions 22. During this period they mounted a series of attacks but realised how important defence is when the Lions repelled them with some comfort.

By 20 mins a Doolittle try from close in following a series of attacks down the Lions right and a Trinham conversion pushed the Lions further out and with 5 mins to go to half-time and unconverted try, again from skipper Doolittle, left the home side comfortable at 24-7 up. By then Trinham had departed with a suspected broken nose and Wainwright came on to play at 12, with Brookes moving to 10. The break in play momentarily allowed the visitors back in and they were next to score, but normal service was resumed on half-time with another fine try by Brookes after some good interpassing in the backs and forwards and a final pass from his twin, Fred. Wainwright’s conversion gave the Lions a 31-12 lead and maximum try-count bonus points at the half.

Harborne were quicker out of the blocks, scoring within 2 mins of the restart, but this was quickly trumped by 2 tries in a minute shortly after, an outstanding team move leaving Tibbetts with a try down the left, followed immediately from the restart by a try and conversion by Wainwright to leave the Lions well clear at 43-17.

As he had throughout the match Tibbetts’ superb box kicking against a rapidly tiring visiting pack kept them on the back foot with no real prospect of getting anywhere close. Two further tries, one for new signing Jagit Mahal from the back of a 5 metre scrum and a second try for Cass Brookes, converted by Wainwright, ended the scoring for a comprehensive win.

There will be many much tougher games ahead for this squad but the signs are that the impressive performances last season will continue and the hard work in the close season, particularly on fitness and defence, will bear fruit. The Lions defence across the pitch left Harborne fighting for scraps and the passing and movement of the backs behind a very hard-working and powerful forward unit was at times delightful. Next match Kidderminster away, always a tough place to go and a side who will be looking for revenge after 2 defeats to the Lions last term. We have been warned.

JON DEWS