LIONS MAKE HARD WORK OF BEATING KIDDIE

LIONS MAKE HARD WORK OF BEATING KIDDIE
Following on from a great performance against Camp Hill a Lions squad showing half a dozen changes arrived at Marlpool Lane in good heart. Boffey returned on the right wing and Dallison made his Lions debut on the left. It is a measure of the developing strength in depth that they came away with an ultimately comfortable win, 29-15, but the real story was how difficult they made it look.
There was little sign of things to come in the first half, with the Lions putting the home side under immediate pressure and the first 15 mins were spent probing the Kidderminster defence around the home 22. An early move saw Dews through the Kiddie centres only to drop the pass from Wainwright with the try line beckoning.
After this the home outfit began to dominate, with several drives using their big back row and No. 8 and through moving the ball quickly to their wingers. Around halfway through the half they managed to get their right winger clear for a good try in the corner and the alarm bells started ringing for the Lions. Despite having most of the play and a faster, more mobile back row, they were being beaten to the breakdown far too often for comfort.
The games was nip and tuck up to 30 mins when a mistake in defence let the home side press for the line, only for a last ditch scramble forcing a 5 metre scrum. Although the Lions wheeled the set-piece the scrum continued and the resulting drive ended in a second Kiddie try. 10-0 to the home outfit.
It was here again, as with the previous week that the Lions showed their mettle, refusing to buckle and forcing Kiddie back. Within 2 mins a penalty allowed the visitors a lineout in the home 22 and, with good momentum the forwards drove the home pack over the line for a typical try out of the Doolittle textbook. The half ended with the Lions reducing the arrears to 2 points with a penalty goal from Wilson. 10-8 at the half. There was a blow to the Lions when skipper Doolittle, suffering from stomach cramps and sickness, was forced off and the pack was re-formed for the second half.
The beginning of the second half was error-strewn and loose, with a measure of the errors being that, of the first 5 lineouts only one was taken with the throw. Gradually the Lions took control, realising that there were opportunities through the home midfield. On 15 mins Brooks scored after a series of driving plays down the left and then a switch right for a fine try near the posts, converted by Trinham for a 15-10 lead.
A further 5 mins on and great defensive pressure by the Lions back row and midfield backs along the home 22 forced a turnover from which Robinson, by now operating at 10, dived over on the left. Another conversion by Trinham left the Lions 22-10 up. Back came the hosts and, after several close encounters close to the Lions line and at least 4 five metre scrums the right winger was put over in the right corner for his second try.
Again, however, just when it seemed that the game was swinging back the home side’s way with around 10 mins to go more aggressive defence in midfield on the halfway line saw Wainwright hack down the middle and outpace the home defence for a try near the posts and maximum points for the second week running. The conversion left the Lions ahead by 29-15 and, after a couple of remaining scares the visitors ran the clock down for a good away win.
The trials of the first half notwithstanding, as coach Tibbetts said after the game, this was a game the Lions could easily have lost and may well have done in the past. This was a dogged performance where the team won “ugly”.
The club have now gone past 30 league points at the half way stage and have proved they can survive well in a much tougher league than last season. The challenge is to keep improving and produce at least as much in the way of victories and points in the second half of the season, starting with a tough away game next week against Moseley Oak.

Jon Dews