LIONS SMASH VESEYANS

The Lions travelled to Veseyans on Saturday determined to look for their 2nd win in a row and the outcome had Stourton Park statisticians scrambling for the record books after a 70-20 win.
The result was firmly built on a dynamic and powerful performance by the pack with a dominant front five in scrum and lineout and another outstanding display by the back row, where Noott and O’Sullivan were both close to man of the match. Eleven tries sent the Lions up to 5th place and further daylight between them and the bottom three.
Curiously the game began with a well worked try from Veseyans’ backs after a couple of missed tackles on half way let their full back in down the Lions’ right. Soon after, however a try by the outstanding Tom Noott and a conversion by Ben Trinham gave the Lions a lead they never relinquished. By 18 minutes a penalty by Trinham and a try by Josh Trinham against a single penalty by the home side gave the Lions a 15-8 lead. Credit to captain Doolittle’s sharpness in advising the referee of the law around charge downs that helped lead to the try.
Another penalty by Trinham and a conversion to O’Sullivan’s try under the posts pushed the Lions out to 25 points and the bonus points. A second try for Noott at the half merely emphasised the dominance of the Lions eight in the first 40 mins.
The second half opened with the 3rd try for Noott to add to the 30-8 half-time lead, a move from the kick-off ending with a driving run and sidestep to score down the left. Credit to Veseyans; somehow they scored a converted try almost immediately to reduce the arrears to 35-15 and for a while it was nip and tuck until a break by Noott through the middle and a hack ahead by Tildesley led him to win the chase for the ball and a converted try.
Back came Veseyans who refused to lie down despite the deficit. An unconverted try by their stand-off led to a score of 42-20 after 20 second half minutes. More dominance by the forwards and a drive down the right led to a try wide on the left by Josh Trinham, brilliantly converted by his cousin pushed the Lions close to 50 points.
After a further 5 minutes the pack got in on the act when, following a catch and drive, the inevitable Doolittle could not be prised from the ball as the pack crashed over the line for a converted try. There was still time for 2 further converted tries, both by Chance, one of which saw him outpace a fading defence down the middle.
This was an outstanding win against a team just below the Lions at the start of play. Great focus, defence and handling was maintained throughout. There more than a few fine performances but Ben Trinham at scrum-half produced his best performance of the season, well worthy of the accolade of man of the match. He was everywhere during a powerful and skilful exhibition of the scrum-half arts, whether sniping, running the plays or through his outstanding goal kicking.
Next week sees the Lions visit the all-conquering Bridgnorth where strong defence and even greater concentration is essential.

Jon Dews