AFTER THE LORD MAYOR'S SHOW

After the breathless excitement of last week’s comeback win against Stoke, the Lions came down to earth with a sobering 13-0 defeat at home to a well drilled and physical Worcester, who played the referee and the offside line much better than the home s

A niggly and often fractious encounter saw two away players sin-binned, one after 10 minutes, but the Lions could not take advantage. The damage was done mainly in the first half, with an early penalty goal followed by a converted try for a 10-0 half-time lead. The away try saw loud protests from the home fans who were convinced that there was a high tackle on a Stour player, but the ball went loose and the Worcester left wing was away and under the posts from half-way.

The Lions went close a number of times in the first half but the frustration at a poor pass, a lost opportunity or last-ditch Worcester defence, was palpable by half-time. They were second best at the breakdown, in the scrums and had their line-out ball stolen more times than in any game this season. This, and the away outfit’s slowing down of the Lions’ momentum, gave little in the way of a go-forward platform.

The second half gave some more hope as the Lions set about their task with more determination, but the more the half went on the greater the sense that this was not their night. Indeed, a penalty by Worcester proved to be the only points of the half and, despite going very close in the last 10 minutes, the away side saw out the win.

The next game is away at Sutton Coldfield, another tough game against a side in 6th place.

by JON DEWS, pics by SIAN DAVIES