Disappointment at Old Yardleians

After watching real fire, effort and courage from the Lions at Moseley Oak in the previous game, Lions supporters could be forgiven for wondering what happened here against a weaker team in Old Yardleians. The squad was missing around half a dozen players through injury and absence but could still field the most powerful front row this season and had seemingly adequate cover in most positions. Despite this, they allowed a strong position at half time, when 13-0 up and commencing the 2nd half downhill to end in a dispiriting and frustrating defeat.

The game began with the Lions pressing the home defence and this was rewarded by a fine try by Duncan Chance down the left after a chase and good handling gave him the space. On 15 minutes a penalty by Sam Wilson increased the lead to 8 points. At this point all the home side had achieved was a few forays into the Lions’ 22 without ever really threatening the try line.

The game continued in this vein, with a little more pressure from Yards but just before the break the Lions broke out, Chance hacked on and Will Fallows pounced for a fine try, again on the left. The score was 13-0 at the half with the Lions seemingly in command and playing downhill in the second half.

In view of the position the second half was a disaster – the home outfit scoring a converted try almost immediately after the whistle blew. At this point there seemed, with a few honourable exceptions in the back row, a collective panic. Passes went astray, tackles were being missed down the middle of the field and the home side took heart and pressed again and again.

The Lions did attack, sometimes well into the Yards 22 on occasion, but a misplaced pass or a turnover or a penalty meant that the pressure was not consistent. Another series of missed tackles and poor decision making left the Lions on their own 22. Seconds later a poor pass from the ruck left Wilson with a kick that was charged down, resulting in another try for Yards near the posts, again converted for a lead of 14-13 to the home side.

At last the Lions began to show some urgency and launched a series of attacks, a couple close to the home line but again indiscretions or mistakes under pressure left them pointless. Eventually, with around 5 minutes left, more missed tackles resulted in a high kick into the Lions’ 22 where the ball was dropped. The home scrum half hacked the ball through and won the chase to the try. Yet another conversion left the Lions 8 points behind and no time to change the result.

This was comfortably the worst performance of the season thus far. Yes there were players missing and yes there was a lack of cohesion across the team but this is the kind of game the Lions need to win if we are to make any impact on the league this year. Too many players went missing when the pressure was on and panic set in far too easily. Against limited but determined opposition like this more passion, energy and courage is needed; there was not enough on show here today.

by Jon Dews